Lot 123

Josef Drahoňovský (1877 - 1938) A GIRL WITH VINE

A charming oval necklace with a motif of a female nude and wine is topped with a brilliant cut diamond set in a white gold mounting. Drahonovsky once said of the glyptic: "Stone carving is actually sculpture in miniature. The knowledge of modelling, drawing, the knowledge of the laws of perfect relief, the harmony of graded surfaces, of light, all these form the basic values of good engraving in stone and glass." From 1918 onwards, he devoted himself to cutting glass and gems with great intensity, and glyptics completely absorbed him. The intaglio is in a variant of crystal with a slight smoky tinge, a material that Josef Drahoňovský also used for jewellery making at this time.