Lalique: Use of Materials

Question 1

1. Body and wings

Answer 1

A gold and enamel dragonfly body with open wings with extremely fine opaline enamel decoration enriched by diamonds, enamel work and moonstones. The body of the dragonfly in enamelled gold features chalcedony en cabochon.

Question 2

2. Mouth of dragonfly

Answer 2

From the open mouth of the dragonfly, a chrysoprase female bust emerges with griffin’s claws and its head covered by a helmet decorated with two beetles in enamelled gold.

Question 3

Gold and Diamonds

Answer 3

Luxury materials when it was made.
Gold was used due to its high durability and it is a soft metal making it extremely easy to manipulate.
The diamonds would have been imported from Africa and used in this piece to show decadence and opulence.

Question 4

Enamelling

Answer 4

A technique imported from Japan.
Allowed for intricate designs to be created using coloured glass.
Highly fashionable at the time and not expensive.