A Gorgeous Art Nouveau Pendant
An Oregon jeweler recently called us with something unusual and right up our alley … a pendant that stunned us all, even Katrina.
It had all the right ingredients. Three carats of fine, white old-cut melée diamonds, set in a bold, late 19th-century style. But the centerpiece was special: an intricately carved Medusa head, carved into natural peridot. Striking, haunting, and unmistakably art nouveau.
The icing on the cake? It was signed by Theodore B. Starr.
Starr once worked for Tiffany before striking out on his own, building a great American jewelry house that rivaled Tiffany. The New York Times wrote: “This establishment … has no duplicate in this country, and probably not in the world.” High praise!
Jewelry featuring Medusa saw a surge in popularity in the years between 1890-1915, part of a broader fascination with classical mythology. But it wasn’t just decorative; Medusa also carried symbolic weight. During that period, she was embraced in certain circles as a symbol of female strength, independence and suffrage; powerful, protective, not to be underestimated.
We offered $7,500 for the pendant, confident it would bring $10,000 or more in the right setting. The jeweler hesitated, and ultimately decided to let the market decide.
The piece will be featured in an upcoming Hess Fine Auctions sale (or sister company), where collectors will determine its value. Would you like to see it? It will be displayed in our Hyde Park store.
Because in the end, the market always has the final word with valuation.
