Hanger van goud en groen email, met een robijn c. 1908 - 1911

This gold pendant with green enamel and a ruby was crafted by Lodewijk Willem van Kooten II. The choice of gold speaks to wealth, but it's also a supremely workable material, easily shaped into delicate forms. And that enamel work – the swirling green patterns – shows an artist deeply engaged with surface decoration, a technique refined over centuries. It involved careful layering and firing to achieve that glossy finish. The ruby, of course, is the crowning touch, a gem symbolizing passion and status. But beyond the materials themselves, consider the labor involved. Mining the gold and ruby, refining the metal, and applying the enamel with such precision – these are all processes demanding skilled hands. It's easy to overlook this in our age of mass production, but objects like this remind us of the human effort woven into every creation. So, when you look at this pendant, remember that it represents not just luxury, but also a legacy of craftsmanship.