Rijksmuseum

Comb in the form of two dragonflies

Lucien Gaillard

Date

c. 1904

Medium

emerald (mineral), citrine, gold (metal), horn (animal material), diamond (mineral)

Culture

Paris

Institution

Rijksmuseum

Forms derived from nature were an important source of inspiration around 1900. Gaillard’s astonishing technical virtuosity is demonstrated in his jewels with lifelike insects. For instance, he made parts of the dragonflies’ wings in plique-à-jour, a vitreous enamelling technique, in which the enamel is not applied to a metal base, but rather set in a gossamer thin wire framework.

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