A lady with her hair let down, in profile among the flowers. The head of this pin is a shaped gold plaque with a woman's face in crisp relief, her long hair streaming back into scrolling leaves and a full-blown blossom. It rides on a long gold stem marked "10K," with a dark metal point protector capping the tip.

Women with flowing hair and flowers were the signature subject of Art Nouveau (around 1895 to 1910), the age of Alphonse Mucha's posters for Sarah Bernhardt, when actresses and dancers such as Loie Fuller were the movement's living models. Pins like this one were worn in a cravat, on a lapel or in a hat; it was offered to us as a hat pin.

The other pieces bought in the same group, a gold safety pin and two bar pins, are listed separately.

The Details

• Era: Art Nouveau style, ca. 1900
• Metal: 10k gold
• Marks: "10K" on the stem
• Measurements: 2.25 inches
• Weight: 1.44 grams exclusive of protector
• Condition: Good, with light wear; the point protector of other metal.