Featured Who made the original of this Art Nouveau Style Maiden pin?

I believe this is by Diane Von Furstenberg, although not typical of her later style. I know I have seen this face/model before. The pin is supposed to simulate a gold or bronze piece in prongs. There is a small "B" to the far left of the front.

The maiden has long hair and wears a scarf/kerchief on her head with a crystal bandeau across the front. She appears to have a hoop earring. (PS- the crystals are not darkened at all, that just a photo effect.)

Who was the "B" who made the original piece and does it have a name? Thanks!

 

odd little mark on the front to the left, are you sure it's a small B?

 

Wait. Do you mean "small" as in lowercase?

 

I see a monogram in which T is prominent. I don't really see a B. My eyes are playing tricks. Sometimes I see it as TE & sometime as Tb. It's probably something else altogether.

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/646663...+nouveau+cameo&ref=sr_gallery-2-4&frs=1&sts=1

 

Possibly the artist is Edmond-Henri Becker.

 

Different one, same one? https://www.mercari.com/us/item/m52033717547/

This one leads us to Alva DVB Jewelers:
https://worldeccentricitycharm.com/products/pretty-woman-profile-pin-alva-dvb-museum-replica-jewelry

which is listed here:
https://www.jewellist.us/company-alva-jewelry-dvb-inc-in-new-york-ny-25803

and here:
https://www.corporationwiki.com/New-York/New-York/alva-dvb-museum-replica-jewelry/51717730.aspx

but still murky....

 

https://gem.app/product/vintage-art-nouveau-dvb-collection

 

The logo on the back of the OP's does appear to have the initials DVB, as in the second link you posted. I don't see the words "museum replica" that the seller says are there under that link. But I looked quickly.

 

This page shows her marks:
https://www.costumejewelrycollector...-jewelry-history-companies-and-signatures-13/

They could have missed one, maybe?

 

This one appears to be the same girl and is marked Alva. The seller gives this info, don't know if it's correct or not.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/202856747382

This enchanting brooch ALVA by Diane Von Basedow Collection Museum Replica Art Nouveau pretty woman profile brooch is a vintage costume jewelry piece from ALVA Museum Co. (1948-1990) founded by Alfred Wolkenberg of Vienna. His studio hired many artists produce high quality reproductions of ancient jewelry and sculpture found in museums worldwide. The reproductions were then sold by the various museums. This particular piece bears the marks of artist Diane Von Basedow Collection whose trademarks were first issued in 1977 according to my research. The ALVA costume jewelry is highly collectible today.


This beautiful example of her work features a beautiful lady in profile with rhinestones in her hair in classic Art Nouveau style. The brooch is stunning with almost no sign of wear at all and is a beautiful reproduction of a classic gold work of art. The gold is still satin matte and the crystals are crisp and clear. It measures approx. 1 inch in diameter.

 

I did find this on the trademark. It appears that Alva was also owned by Diane Von Basedow Inc

https://trademarks.justia.com/search?q=diane+von+basedow+inc



DVB
jewelry
Owned by: Diane Von Basedow, Inc.
Serial Number: 74168888

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/304248514888?hash=item46d69fe948:g:Y~0AAOSwo8JhqMDe

 

Excellent research skills, as usual!

 

https://chrysler.emuseum.com/objects/26357/pin?ctx=7edc89f9-d8d9-49e7-b107-e96d3ee53b91&idx=46

 

This is grainy because I enlarged such a tiny bit of the picture. The monogram from a pic of another specimen of this brooch.

Good on you. I couldn't find it. They know Boucheron made it, but give no info on who the medallist was.

 

Great research!

 

I am so impressed with you all! I got off on the wrong foot with the DVF instead of DVB. Thanks, to @Darkwing Manor and everyone who replied.

I suppose there is a reason why Diane, who owned/owns ALVA, didn't put an ALVA mark on this. But I know the company who made it now. And, @say_it_slowly found the original catalog page, wow!

I've done more looking online after @Roaring20s offered the link to the original in the Chrysler Museum. Similar maidens made of gold and diamonds appear to have a "formula" : pretty lady face in profile, Nouveau styling, gold and diamonds, artists monogram in the open area to the side. I found several Becker medals with the surname spelled out in full and one with a reversed B (perhaps the Asian auction house flipped the image). Couldn't find a Becker with just a B, correctly placed, on it.

As for the prices asked, $25 to $250--and that eBay seller has atrocious photos. Crazy business, huh?

I had not idea there was so a large community of medal designers. Were these awards for accomplishments in arts or industry? None of the listings I perused mentioned the purpose of the medal.

 

What I meant to add was that Frederic Boucheron might actually have designed the piece? Time frame seems correct. He won a gold medal in 1867 at the Universelle Exposition for a jewelry design so trying to Google him with "gold medal" seems to revert to those results all the time and not to his possible work as a designer of medals.

 

Sometimes it takes a village.