Art Nouveau Cicada Pate de Verre Glass Pendant Necklace

In the late 19th century, the move away from machine-made jewel jewelry gave rise to a new aesthetic that was significantly influenced by Japanese prints and woodcuts of simple, yet elegant, interpretations of nature. This artistic approach came to be called Japonism and greatly influenced the jewelry design of the Art Nouveau era. Insects were a favored motif, with the intriguing cicada often represented and, in the case of this arresting necklace, remarkably so. The striking and exotic pendant, measuring 2 1/2 by just shy of 2 inches, is made from pate de verre (a glass paste) in light to dark amber hues and is crafted with a large and beautifully detailed cicada. Embellished below by a (newly added) shimmering burnt orange tassel, it suspends from a complementary cord by way of a macrame connector accented with a gleaming glass bead. A rare, ravishing, and extraordinary collectable. Signed GAR. Total length of pendant including tassel and bead, 6 3/8 inches. The new cord that replaces the timeworn original measures 25 inches. Condition note: there is a fine crack in the piece that has been stabilized--wear with care.