A rare and exceptional antique Art Nouveau French signed Becker 18k yellow gold medallion pendant features left facing profile of young Joan of Arc in armor with ivy leaves (symbol of strength, love and eternity), enhanced by a fancy cutout and plique-a-jour enamel flowery crown border with enameled blossoms. Joan of Arc, from 1400s, is considered a heroine of France for her role during the Hundred Years' War, and was canonized as a Saint. For centuries, women have looked to Joan as a positive example of a brave and active woman. Plique-a-jour is a vitreous enameling technique where the enamel is applied in cells, similar to cloisonné, but with no backing in the final product, so light can shine through the transparent or translucent enamel. It is in affect a miniature version of stained.
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