Art nouveau style door handles
Art nouveau followed the Victorian period in artistic expression and style. Artists and craftsmen of the period expanded beyond classical European influences and borrowed heavily from other parts of the world. The art nouveau style incorporated many elements from nature, utilizing natural materials, and was highly symbolic. Literally, art nouveau translates as "new art" and was popular from the1890s through to around 1910 although by the definition of what is art nouveau and when it was popular is still debated by many.
Instructions
1. Artists may sign their work anywhere on the artifact.
Gather as much information as possible about the signature in question. Identify the type of artifact in possession, the materials used, the subject matter, and the history of the artifact. Details about previous owners may be useful. If previous owners are still living and agree to be contacted about the artifact, more specific information about the artist or the location of the artwork and when it was created may be obtained. Information about the artifact narrows the search field for where an artist may have been working and what period of time he or she worked.
2. A collector's guide will contain information about a wide subject matter.
Consult a collector's guide, preferably one that focuses on the type of medium: painting, wrought iron, brass, poster, illustration or sculpture. Make a list of artists whose work is similar to the artifact or that was constructed in the same location as the artifact.
3. A signature database contains the digital images of signatures
Register with an online database of artist's signatures. Search the names of the artists whose work resembles the type of artifact in possession or was who working in the same location as the artifact was constructed. Compare signatures until one or more close matches are found.
4. Record information about artist's signatures in a journal.
If the signature does not match or closely resemble any of the signatures in the database, repeat the process with additional collector's guides and keep a record of artists whose signatures do not match.
