Exquisite Burmese Ruby, Natural Pearl and Diamond Bracelet, Paris, c. 1910

The Great Wave off Kanagawa, the famous woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai, inspired an entire generation of artists. Japan had only opened its doors to the West in 1868 – after centuries of strict isolation – and its art was eagerly received in Europe. The Japanese prints of the Edo period in particular were a decisive inspiration for the Impressionists and, after them, for the Art Nouveau artists of the years around 1900. The lines and colors of these prints were so clear that they were completely different from what was known in Europe. In 1910, Boucheron even created a diamond tiara based on Hokusai's Great Wave. In a small format, this wave also appears to have been captured in this bracelet. Wave after wave of rubies and diamonds are strung together, crowned by a spray of diamonds and pearls. Diamonds in the old cut typical of the time, set close together, form one wave; the next is formed by Burmese rubies calibré-cut to create a seamless curve. Is it rose water and sparkling champagne that combine here to create a veritable deluge, capturing the effervescent, luxurious esprit of the Belle Époque? We discovered the bracelet in Vienna. However, it was created in Paris, as its hallmarks show. It is a beautiful piece in terms of its design, materiality and workmanship.

Estimation:€5,980

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