A rare and delightful signed stickpin in 18ct gold by the French maker Léon Gariod, c.1890, modelled as a jester with considerable charm and character. The jester — the fou du roi of the French court — was a popular subject in the decorative arts of the fin de siècle, a period that embraced wit, fantasy, and the theatrical alongside the more earnest naturalism of the Art Nouveau movement. Gariod's treatment here captures the figure with the fluid, expressive modelling that distinguishes the finest French goldsmithing of the period. At 1.5 × 1.4cm and 4.3g the head has real presence for a stickpin. Signed with Gariod's maker's mark and French assay marks for 18ct gold. A signed piece by a named French maker of this period is increasingly rare to find in this condition.

The Details

• Circa: 1890
• Weight: 4.3g
• Head dimensions: 1.5 × 1.4cm
• Hallmarks: Maker's mark for Léon Gariod; French assay marks for 18ct gold
• Origin: France
• Maker: Léon Gariod, Paris