Design for the Central Part of a Collier de Chien, René Lalique, c. 1901 - c. 1903
Around 1900 the widespread interest in nature, neo-styles, and art from far-flung places developed into the art nouveau, or jugendstil style of decorative art. In this drawing of a dog collar necklace René Lalique, the greatest French jewellery designer of this period, displays his love for design as an art form. The use of pearls and enamel in blue tints is at the service of the design: it is not just about the materials as such.