Antique brooch around 1900 – Art Nouveau wild animal scene in the forest – handmade unique piece

A silent greeting from the past

This antique brooch, dating from between 1880 and 1910, is a unique relic of the Art Nouveau era. It features a delicately carved fawn nestled within an enchanted forest scene of leaves and mushrooms—deeply and vividly crafted, presumably from real bone or ivory.

The artisan who created this piece didn't just carve jewelry—he preserved nature in its purest form.

The solid, oxidized silver setting shows venerable signs of time: a fine patina, light verdigris, and dark discoloration. None of this has been cleaned or modernized. This brooch has been preserved in its authenticity—as it was found.

The back features a classic, functional pin with a spring mechanism—a technique typical at the turn of the century. Small ornaments on the sides suggest an Alpine or Eastern European origin. Perhaps it was once part of a festive costume, a hunting gift, or a symbol of a deep connection to nature.

Such a piece of jewelry not only carries history – it breathes it.

Product details & features

Period: approx. 1880–1910

Style: Art Nouveau / Historicism

Material motif: bone or ivory (not cleaned, not tested)

Setting: Presumably real silver with patina & oxidation

Technique: Deep carving & relief with openwork

Motif: fawn in the forest, surrounded by mushrooms and leaves

Condition: Unrestored, visibly antique with signs of age

Needle mechanism: Original pin needle with functioning spring

Size: approx. 3 cm length × 1.8 cm width

Weight: approx. 4.96 g

Colour motif: natural white with dark aging

Frame color: Silver with dark patina

Special feature: unique, no artificial shine, pure authenticity