Enamel and gold brooch by Maison Vever Paris. A brooch in the form of a circular shallow concave disk decorated in relief with a poppy, a daisy and a cornflower surrounded by foliage all in pale green enamel, the reverse mounted with a secure hinged pin and scroll clasp. Marked 18 carat yellow gold, signed ‘VEVER Paris’, French, circa 1900.

The story of maison Vever started over 200 years ago, in 1821, when Pierre-Paul Vever founded the business in Metz, north-eastern France. By the 1870’s, the business had moved to the renowned Parisian jewellery street, rue de la Paix, with the founder’s grandson’s Henri and Paul now at the helm of the business.

Maison Vever soon became pioneers of the art nouveau style, a very new aesthetic featuring sinuous lines, nature inspired motifs and enamel coupled with a rejection of large gems and over reliance on diamonds.

Alongside Boucheron, Vever were awarded with the ‘Grand Prix’ at the Paris World Exhibition of 1889 and were given further accolades at the international exhibitions of 1897, 1900 and 1908. Their clients included Tsar Alexander III as well as the Shah of Persia and many of the leading entrepreneurs of the time.

In addition to creating fine art nouveau jewels, Henri Vever also wrote the most comprehensive publication to date about the history of jewellery production and design in France: French Jewelry of the Nineteenth Century.

This brooch is in excellent condition.