French Art Nouveau 18K gold chimera battling snake brooch

For sale an Art Nouveau era 18K yellow gold brooch, a testament to the era's artistic prowess and imagination.

The brooch showcases a chimera, resplendent with meticulously detailed feathers, engaged in an epic battle with a coiling snake, whose scales are rendered with remarkable precision. The artist's attention to detail is evident in every aspect of the design, from the graceful leaf arabesques that surround the combatants to the lifelike textures that bring the scene to life. Adorning the brooch is a sparkling diamond weighted approximately 0.2ct, it adds an extra touch of brilliance to the brooch.

This powerful brooch captures the eternal struggle between good and evil through the dynamic confrontation between a chimera and a serpent: the chimera, often seen as a symbol of protection and strength, clashes with the serpent, a classic representation of danger and malevolence. Together, they create a scene rich with symbolic meaning, adding depth and intrigue to the brooch.

We’ve curated several French antique chimera brooches in the past, but such a meaningful and dynamic scene is seldom found, making this piece a highly sought-after addition to any collection of mythical or gothic revival jewelry.

The brooch is stamped with the French eagle’s head hallmark for 18K gold with a maker’s mark.

Pictures have been zoomed in to show details, please refer to the measurement for its real size.

Measurements and Condition

In overall very good antique condition. Slight traces of use and oxidation.

French eagle’s head hallmark for 18K gold with a maker’s mark.

The brooch measures 28mm*26mm

Weight: 13.5g