Fuset y Grau Art Nouveau Bracelet

Created by the Barcelona jewelers Fuset y Grau, this 18K gold, enamel, citrine and diamond bracelet dates from the Art Nouveau period, circa 1900. The hinged bangle of red and yellow 18K gold centers an oval-cut citrine set among chased and engraved scrolling leaves, fronds, blossoms, and ribbons, subtly enhanced with pale green transparent enamel, and accented by old mine, old single, and rose-cut diamonds in platinum-topped gold. With its bold form and unusual palette, this rare jewel in the Catalan modernista style is striking for its consummate artisanship in gold and its design originality.

Materials: 1 oval-cut citrine (measuring approximately 35mm x 20mm x 11mm and weighing approximately 39.00 carats); 66 old mine and rose-cut diamonds (approximate total weight 1.32 carats); 18K Gold and platinum-topped 18K gold
Signed: FUSETGRAU
Literature: For a Fuset y Grau hinged bracelet of citrine, 18K gold, platinum, and diamond, see Imperishable Beauty: Art Nouveau Jewelry, p. 82.

Fuset y Grau, along with the workshop of Lluis Masriera, were prominent jewelers of the Catalan modernist movement, led by architects such as Antoni Gaudi. The movement was characterized intricate ornamentation featuring natural motifs and dynamic flowing lines, and where possible referenced Catalan history and identity. Highly regarded as art jewelers, the Fuset y Grau were selected to participate in the Exposition International des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Moderne in 1925.