Gothic revival gold openwork bracelet by Wièse, circa 1885.

During the latter half of the 19th century, goldsmiths turned increasingly towards the past, sourcing inspiration from ancient and medieval artefacts and reviving age-old techniques. At the forefront of these revival movements was Jules Wièse (1818-1890), who came to Paris from Berlin in 1839. Combining medieval motifs with traditional manufacturing methods, Wièse drew inspiration from Arthurian legend and other chivalric tales, as well as Gothic architecture and art forms. His work is highly sculptural, often featuring figures which could be either human or mythological in nature, many with a definite Gothic overtone.

This bracelet features the poincon (*WIESE*) for Louis Daniel WIESE, Jules’ son. Louis worked for his father from the tender age of 12 (in 1864), and formally took over the business in 1880. Under Louis Daniel's leadership, the business continued to create pieces of note and exhibited an unsurpassed level of craftsmanship.