Compote

David-Andersen|David Andersen

ca. 1900 · Silver, gold wire, enamel, amethyst, moonstone2 · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

This beautifully enameled compote was produced by the firm of David Andersen, one of Norway’s foremost goldsmiths of the second half of the nineteenth century. The filigree details reflect the Romantic Nationalism of the so-called Norwegian ‘dragon style’ (Dragestilen). The enameled flowers and cockatoos are typical of local interpretations of Art Nouveau, while the blue enamel inside the bowl evokes the masterworks of Peter Carl Fabergé (1846–1920). Combining several decorative styles, this compote stands at the threshold of Norwegian (and Scandinavian) 20th century modernism.

Artist

David-Andersen|David Andersen

Date

ca. 1900

Medium

Silver, gold wire, enamel, amethyst, moonstone2

Culture

Norwegian, Oslo

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Jacqueline Loewe Fowler, 2020