Hardstone. Hardstones are precious or semi-precious gemstones which can be used for intaglios or mosaics etc. Reference: Lexico.
During the Art Deco era hardstones were extremely popular in jewelry, vanity case, clock garnitures and many other forms of decorative arts. Hardstones are easy to carve and lent themselves well to being incorporated into artwork which made pictures, such as the Black, Starr & Frost timepiece below.
Below are some examples and price guides of Art Deco hardstone items including a diamond and multi-gem vanity case and a carved hardstone and diamond bracelet with carved flowers.
Art Deco Carved Hardstone and diamond bracelet, French, circa 1925 The articulated band decorated with panels of carved hardstone flowers, including coral, carnelian, chalcedony and malachite, against a lapis lazuli ground, within a border of single-cut diamonds, mounted in platinum, French assay mark.
Sold for 121,000 USD at Sotheby’s in 2007
BLACK, STARR & FROST. A VERY FINE ART DECO CHINOISERIE 18K ENAMELED GOLD, CABOCHON TOURMALINE, AND CARVED HARDSTONE BOUDOIR TIMEPIECE Date: 1930’s Movement: 13-jewel with lever escapement, wound and set by separate key mounted inside the case back, signed E. Mathey-Tissot & Co. Dial: rectangular champlevé enamel panel with fanciful Chinese landscape, applied Chinese numerals, pierced arrow hands Case: On pierced bracket feet, bezel set with cabochon tourmaline, side panels champlevé enameled with flowering branches, surmounted by a carved hardstone elephant
Sold for US$ 110,000 (£ 80,753) inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2017
ART DECO DIAMOND AND MULTI-GEM VANITY CASE Of rectangular outline depicting a village scape, opening to reveal a fitted mirror, two compartments and lipstick holder, single-cut diamonds, calibré-cut emeralds, inlaid mother-of-pearl and brown hardstone, carved cabochon and inlaid lapis lazuli, black enamel, gold, 3 5/8 x 2 x 3/8 ins., circa 1925
Sold for USD 35,000 at Christie’s in 2019
French Art Deco Gold Mounted Agate, Hardstone and Coral Miniature Footed Bowl Van Cleef & Arpels, 1920s-1930s The carved agate circular bowl on a hardstone support mounted with coral beads, continuing to a circular agate base on ball feet. Height 1 3/8 inches, diameter 2 5/8 inches.
Sold for $11,875 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle in 2020
14KT Art Deco Hardstone Bracelet bracelet comprised of square carved carnelian links, a rectangular carved rock crystal quartz link, and a dyed green chalcedony link joined with ribbed gold bar links, completed with a spring ring clasp stamped 14K.
Sold for $1,500 at Leland Little Auctions in 2020
Art Deco inlaid marble / hardstone mantle clock garniture.
Sold for $200 at Ripley Auctions in 2020
