Hello, I'm Teri Buvala. My main reason for joining this group was to find information on the beautiful Flying Fairy with the Dragonfly Wings. She is usually displayed as a necklace, brooch, or charm. I want to know who created her, and any other information about her. A description: a female nude on splayed dragonfly wings, with flowing long hair, face in profile to the right, right arm extended and lowered, left arm extended, slightly lowered, upright bent elbow, inward bent hand, and legs together, positioned to the left, and slightly bent at the knees. I think she looks like an art nouveau piece, but seems to have been very popular in the 1970s.
Here’s the original thread: https://www.antiquers.com/threads/art-nouveau-fairy-pin.31292/#post-3411648
If some of the descriptions are correct,they have been made by a number of companies for the last 100 years..... https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-silver-butterfly-fairy-winged-438857040 https://www.silverb3.co.uk/acatalog/Art-Nouveau-Necklaces-Pendants.html
Heh, I bought her new on a charm-holder pendant in the mid-late '70s, still have it somewhere... I know I saw her in the 1904 Unger Bros. catalog reprint, my copy is packed away, but I think I know where it is, might get to it in a day or two - honestly don't remember if it appeared on more than one item, but this seller says the match-safe was in the catalog (scroll to bottom of the page): https://www.rubylane.com/item/808500-rl0316411/Unger-Bros-Nude-Fairy-Sterling-Silver ~Cheryl
She is by French medal designer Marie-Alexandre Lucien Coudray, 1864-1932. Coudray was also known as Lucien Coudray or Alexandre Coudray. Don't be fooled by the name Marie-, Coudray was a man. Coudray fairy jewellery was originally made by Begeer/Royal van Kempen & Begeer, just like the fairy in the other thread. This is what I wrote in that thread: "Royal van Kempen & Begeer were an internationally renowned Dutch silver manufacturer. They started a jewellery line in the 19th century...." Many Art Nouveau jewels are exquisite, but also one off. Begeer, later Van Kempen & Begeer, commissioned well-known designers to design jewellery for them that could be manufactured in a production line, but with good attention to detail. The pieces were good quality and finished by hand. I suspect Unger Brothers copied the Begeer Coudray fairy and gave her water lilies to make it 'their own'. Lovely nonetheless. So yes, the fairy is definitely of Art Nouveau origin, not made in the style of.
I've seen everything 3/4" to 1". About 25 years ago, I wandered into a Naples, Florida jewelry store that featured an enormous fairy about 4 inches tall. I don't remember how much they were asking for it, or the name of the store. I just remember it was beautiful and expensive!
