Set entirely with brilliant- and baguette-cut diamonds of approximately 2.00 carats, this finely crafted brooch by Julius Hügler depicts a seated banjo player on a low table. With its delicate platinum mount and sparkling geometry, the jewel reflects the 1920s vogue for Asiatica—a fascination with Eastern motifs that strongly influenced European decorative arts during the Art Deco period.
This period drew inspiration from diverse cultures and artistic movements, with Oriental motifs often combined with geometric patterns and luxurious materials. Chinese and Japanese elements in particular were reinterpreted in a stylised, angular manner, creating jewels that balanced exoticism with modernity.
An Asian Banjo Player
Founded in Vienna in 1875, Julius Hügler’s atelier quickly rose to prominence, becoming court jeweler to the House of Habsburg and later gaining international acclaim under the second generation, Heinz Hügler. The firm was awarded the Médaille d’Or at the 1925 Exposition internationale des Arts Décoratifs et industriels modernes in Paris, the defining showcase of Art Deco style.