18 karat gold,  plique-à-jour enamel, enamel and opal pendant-brooch,  René Lalique, circa 1903-1904.  Photo Sotheby's

Designed as two facing dragonflies applied with white, blue, teal and very pale blue plique-à-jour enamel wings and enamel bodies, set in the center with an oval cabochon opal, set against a spray of white opal spindleberries and white enamelled stems, signed Lalique, pin fitting missing. ESTIMATE 60,000-80,000 USD

PROVENANCE: Sotheby & Co., London, April 21, 1969, Decorative Arts 1880-1930 including Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau, lot 56, frontis piece of catalogue color illustration.

NOTE: For sketches by Lalique of other dragonfly jewels see René Lalique: Schmuck und Objets d'art 1890-1910, by Sigrid Barten, pp. 343-345, nos. 730-741, also p. 118, color plate 61.

Sotheby's. Important Jewels, New York | 09 Feb 2012 www.sothebys.com