Tillie Doyle
Art Nouveau dinnerware is characterised by sinuous lines and flamboyant curves inspired by the natural world. The style emerged in the late 19th century in France and Britain, in reaction to the stuffy social and artistic constraints of the Victorian era.
Art Nouveau dinnerware is known for its flowing forms, which mimic flowers and plant life, as well as the lissome tendrils of sea life. It often features decorative inlays and ornate carvings of natural motifs, such as insects and animals.
Ceramists such as Ernest Chaplet and Edmond Lachenal created new forms covered in novel and rediscovered glazes that produced thick, foam-like finishes. Bold vases, bowls and lighting designs in acid-etched and marquetry cameo glass by Émile Gallé and the Daum Freres appeared in France, while in New York, Louis Comfort Tiffany's glass workshop produced buoyant pieces in opalescent favrile glass.
Art Nouveau was short-lived, falling out of favour in the early 20th century as tastes changed in the aftermath of World War I. However, it continues to fascinate and seduce, with its designs offering a touch of elegance and sophistication to any dining table.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Era | Late 19th Century, Early 20th Century |
| Origin Countries | France, Britain, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Argentina, United States |
| Motifs | Flowers, plants, sea life, insects, animals |
| Materials | Hardwoods (oak, mahogany, rosewood), porcelain, ceramic, glass, silver, pewter, bone china |
| Notable Designers | Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Hector Guimard, Louis Majorelle, Koloman Moser, Josef Hoffmann, Joseph Maria Olbrich, Ernest Chaplet, Edmond Lachenal, Émile Gallé, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Aubrey Beardsley, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Alphonse Mucha |
What You'll Learn
Art Nouveau cheese and fruit forks and knives
French Art Nouveau Cheese and Fruit Forks and Knives
Imagine setting your table with a dazzling set of French Art Nouveau cheese and fruit forks and knives. Crafted by Dominique Capmartin, this set of 24 utensils exudes the essence of the Art Nouveau period. Each piece is perfectly sized for the cheese and fruit course, or even a decadent dessert. The intricate details, fluid lines, and elegant curves of these forks and knives will undoubtedly enhance your dining experience. Picture yourself serving a selection of fine cheeses with these forks and knives, their handles adorned with intricate engravings or perhaps a whimsical Art Nouveau motif. Whether you're hosting an intimate gathering or a grand dinner party, this set will undoubtedly impress your guests.
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Art Nouveau silverware
Art Nouveau flatware was made from 1895-1910 and is known for its naturalistic ornament with curved lines and rounded shapes.
- Sterling silver serving spoon by Jacobi & Jenkins, circa 1910
- 1903 Art Nouveau sterling dessert forks, set of 6
- 1920s Community Plate flatware, 31 pieces
- 1910s J.B. Deppisch, Wurzburg, metal spoons, set of 5
- Vintage Rogers Bros Art Nouveau silver-plated dinner forks, set of 12
- 1900s Italian Art Nouveau sterling silver and engraved crystal liquor set, set of 7
- 1920s Community Plate flatware, 31 pieces
- 1930s Oneida Community silver plate Coronation pattern flatware set, 56 pieces
- Antique Dominick & Haff sterling silver No. 10 fish serving knife
- 1930s Georg Jensen Denmark sterling silver compote bowl
- 1940s Wilkens & Sohne Bremen 90 silverplate flatware, 26 pieces
- 1960s vintage silver-plated pastry tong Hildesheimer Rose Flower
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Art Nouveau glassware
Today, Art Nouveau glassware is highly sought-after by collectors. Specialist dealers, such as Roger Harris in London, offer a range of rare and beautiful pieces by renowned makers like Galle, Daum, Lalique, Loetz, and Moser. These pieces can be found in antique centres, at auctions, and through online dealers.
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Art Nouveau ceramics
Art Nouveau, a style of art that emerged around 1880, was a movement to suit the new age of turbulent politics and rapid mechanisation. The art movement, which spread like wildfire, was short-lived and by 1905 it was dying. In its 30 years, however, it produced an extraordinarily diverse range of works, particularly in ceramics. Clay was the perfect medium for the Art Nouveau aesthetic, with its malleable and organic nature allowing artisans to shape it into the characteristic sinewy lines, feminine curves, and scrolling vines of the movement.
The pioneers of Art Nouveau ceramics in France were Jean-Joseph Carriès, Ernest Chaplet, Théodore Deck, and Auguste Delaherche, who worked at the potteries of Sèvres and Haviland & Co. They embraced the Japanese appreciation of irregularities in form and glaze, giving new liveliness to both handcrafted and manufactured pieces. Following this lead, Pierre-Adrien Dalpayrat created highly varied, sculptural forms with luscious red, green, and blue glazes. Other artists took inspiration from botanical forms, including Louis Majorelle, Émile Gallé, Émile Grittel, Léon Kann, Taxile Doat, and Hector Guimard (famous for designing the entrances for the Paris Metro).
Today, there is a competitive market for the best pieces of French Art Nouveau ceramics, with collectors prizing condition and provenance. Art Nouveau ceramics can be found for sale on platforms like Etsy, where items range from tiles and vases to pitchers and mugs, showcasing the diverse and decorative nature of this art movement in functional dinnerware and ornamental pieces.
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Art Nouveau dinner plates
- A rare antique KPM Berlin porcelain dinner plate, platter or charger featuring a central landscape scene of a windmill, figures, and sailboats surrounded by an Art Nouveau design of flowers and leaves.
- French Majolica plates from the late 19th century featuring daisies, plums, and other floral motifs.
- A set of four vintage Olfaire Portugal ceramic charger plates with bright colours and scalloped edges.
- A set of 9 vintage dinner plates from Rosenthal, featuring intricate details and elegant designs.
- A full set of 12 Art Nouveau side dishes/dessert plates by Sarreguemines, decorated with wild wine leaves and grapes.
- A French Majolica plate from the early 20th century featuring arum flowers.
- A rare set of 10 majolica-glazed French faïence artichoke and asparagus plates with an oval-shaped master server, created by Orchies in the 19th century.
- A set of two Pickard Limoges Art Nouveau cabinet plates with hand-painted designs of peanuts, almonds, and leaves with gold trim.
- A set of Art Nouveau silver cutlery from Austria-Hungary, comprising 95 pieces.
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Frequently asked questions
Art Nouveau furniture design is characterised by sinuous, organic and flowing lines, forms that mimic flowers and plant life, decorative inlays, and ornate carvings of natural-world motifs such as insects and animals. Hardwoods such as oak, mahogany and rosewood are commonly used.
While both styles were in the forefront of turn-of-the-20th-century design, they differ significantly. Art Deco is marked by bold, geometric shapes, while Art Nouveau incorporates dreamlike, floral motifs. The latter's signature motif is the "whiplash" curve — a deep, narrow, dynamic parabola that appears as an element in everything from chair arms to mirror frames.
The Art Nouveau style quickly reached a wide audience in Europe via advertising posters, book covers, illustrations and other work by artists such as Aubrey Beardsley, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Alphonse Mucha. While all Art Nouveau designs share common formal elements, different countries and regions produced their own variants.
