Art Nouveau Snail

An image of a metal snail on a leaf sitting on a round grey box. The box is sitting on grass amongst green leaves.
The Art Nouveau Snail on the lawn of Eldon House

Country of Origin: France
Year: ca. 1900
Materials: Metal 

This piece is typical to the Art Nouveau style in its subject matter and attention to detail.  Plant life, insects, winged creatures, and organic forms of all kinds figured largely in Art Nouveau jewelry and decorative objects. Art Nouveau was a movement in the visual and decorative arts popular from the early 1890s up to the First World War. It is viewed by some as the first self-conscious attempt to create a modern style. Its influence can be found in painting, sculpture, jewelry, metalwork, glass, and ceramics and was a movement that self-consciously tried to marry art and decoration into one object. The pieces produced in this style are almost all hand-made and often small. Many names refer specifically to the organic forms that were popular with the Art Nouveau artists: Stile Floreal (“floral style”), Lilienstil (“lily style”), Style Nouille (“noodle style”), Paling Stijl (“eel style”), and Wellenstil (“wave style”).  The philosophy of the style followed in the footsteps of the “Arts and Craft” movement, suggesting that if one surrounded themselves with beautiful handmade objects which had aesthetic value, their lives would be intrinsically improved.

We acknowledge that we are on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron. We honour and respect the history, languages and culture of the diverse Indigenous people who call this territory home.

We acknowledge all the treaties that are specific to this area: the Two Row Wampum Belt Treaty of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy/Silver Covenant Chain; the Beaver Hunting Grounds of the Haudenosaunee NANFAN Treaty of 1701; the McKee Treaty of 1790, the London Township Treaty of 1796, the Huron Tract Treaty of 1827, with the Anishinaabeg, and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum of the Anishnaabek and Haudenosaunee.

The three Indigenous Nations that are neighbours to London are the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation; Oneida Nation of the Thames; and the Munsee-Delaware Nation who all continue to live as sovereign Nations with individual and unique languages, cultures, and customs.