Antique Art Nouveau Brooch Dragon’s Breath Silver Jewelry from Bohemia around 1900

This exquisite Art Nouveau brooch is an authentic collector's item from around 1900. The piece of jewelry impresses with a successful combination of symmetry and organic elements in an elongated oval basic shape that perfectly showcases the central stone. Crafted from solid sterling silver, the brooch features the typically curved lines of the era. The centerpiece is a rare Dragon’s Breath cabochon, also known as Mexican Opal. The handmade art glass fascinates with a mystical play of colors in which bright blue and violet landscapes flare up in the deep red base when exposed to light, appearing like the breath of a dragon inside the stone. The brooch is marked with the hallmarks CRP and Sterling, weighs 2.7g and measures approximately 2.5 x 1.5 cm. It is in excellent antique condition with original patina. Please note that the glass stone has a small, age-related chip on the side. Due to the setting and the strong play of colors, this is hardly noticeable when worn, but it is evidence of the authentic age of this historical piece of jewelry (see photos); signs of use appropriate for its age.

The legendary Dragon’s Breath glass has its origins in the famous glassworks of Bohemia at the turn of the 20th century. It was developed to imitate the opalescent fire of precious stones without having to rely on foiling. The production was a closely guarded secret of the Bohemian glass masters, involving the mixing of metal oxides into the liquid glass mass, which are responsible for the characteristic blue flickering. Since each stone was hand-cast and cut, every specimen is unique. The production of this special type of glass was discontinued decades ago, making original pieces from around 1900 a rarity for collectors and lovers of lost art forms today.