Lalique Siren Tiara

Bronze diadem in the shape of a siren. Her arms are raised up and holding a large oval opal above her head. She is naked to the waist and then her tail splits in two, each half forming one half of the diadem. The tails are embossed with shapes suggesting scales and are studded with small emeralds. They curve around round white opalescent pieces representing bubbles that are carved with multiple fish. The siren's hair flows out backward, forming 3 prongs which are used to fasten the diadem into the wearer's hair.

Siren diadem, circa 1900, source

This week I have brought you all another lovely diadem created by René Lalique. Made of bronze, opals (and possibly opalescent glass) and emeralds, it depicts a mermaid rising from the sea, clutching an opal above her head. Her tail splits in two and each piece curves to the side to form the diadem shape. The tails wrap around round "bubble" opalescent pieces, each one carved with several fish. The tails are engraved with scale markings and studded with small emeralds.

Bronze diadem in the shape of a siren. Her arms are raised up and holding a large oval opal above her head. She is naked to the waist and then her tail splits in two, each half forming one half of the diadem. The tails are embossed with shapes suggesting scales and are studded with small emeralds. They curve around round white opalescent pieces representing bubbles that are carved with multiple fish. The siren's hair flows out backward, forming 3 prongs which are used to fasten the diadem into the wearer's hair.

source

How would one wear such a magnificent piece? Take a look at her hair. It flows out backward into 3 sections, forming prongs that can used to poke into your 1900s poufy updo. Seems to me that bronze is a weighty material which makes me wonder how comfortable it would be to wear and how hard it would be to keep it on your head!

Bronze diadem in the shape of a siren. Her arms are raised up and holding a large oval opal above her head. She is naked to the waist and then her tail splits in two, each half forming one half of the diadem. The tails are embossed with shapes suggesting scales and are studded with small emeralds. They curve around round white opalescent pieces representing bubbles that are carved with multiple fish. The siren's hair flows out backward, forming 3 prongs which are used to fasten the diadem into the wearer's hair.

source

So was there any meaning behind using a siren as a motif? That was hard to find out but the Journal of Antiques (linked below) has this to say about his use of the nude female form in general:

The nude female form was a motif that had not really been used in jewelry until the advent of Lalique, who chose to use it because he was inspired by the natural world and believed that the nude female form was one of the most beautiful and striking in nature.

He really seemed to like the siren as a design. He moved away from creating jewelry pieces (apparently tired of having his designs copied) and moved into creating glassworks. He became famous for his perfume bottles and car hood ornaments, many featuring sirens.

image of a white rabbit popping out of his rabbit hole, looking around, and going back in. His rabbit hole is surrounded by grass and some carrots in the ground.

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