Austro Hungarian, an empire, a genre of antiques

Often made up a colour clashing gemstones, both precious and semi precious. More often than not, made in silver, or silver with gold highlights.
The gemstones were dug in the Austrian mountains and Bohemia in particular garnets, emeralds, topaz, rock crystal, sapphires. Obviously paste stones were used as well.
Often one of the give a ways is the rear of silver items has highly decorative, floral and swirling designs cast and hand chased, into the silver. The stones can be cabochon or faceted, and normally held in a collate setting i.e. a collar of silver or occasionally gold.
The Austro Hungarian Empire spanned 7 decades from 1867 to 1918 when the first world war broke up many alliances and countries. The two country's were a military and diplomatic of two sovereign states ruled by one monarch, Empire of Austria, and King of Hungary. Both the two countries were responsible for making some of the best antiques and of course, were in power, during a time of much invention and technical innovation let alone the Arts and Crafts / Art Nouveau period.
Another talent was finely detailed enamel work, again more normally on silver, but with particularly fine detail, would give the French a good run for their money, who with limoges and others were fine fine enamelers.
Leave a comment
Comments will be approved before showing up.