Customer Reviews

Art Nouveau and Art Deco Jewelry: An Identification and Value Guide

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Baker presents a definitive guide to Deco and Nouveau Jewelry. She outlines the historical influences on the designs, offers beautifully photographed and representative pieces and concludes with a glossary and price guide. Her format is logical and the placement of the price guide as an addendum allows periodic updates that keep the book current. Overall a helpful guide for the novice or experienced collector and a pleasurable book for simply viewing lovely jewelry pieces. The paperback format allows affordability.

While this book might be of some use to an antiques dealer, the photos are much to small and of to poor a quality to be of any use to a student of jewelry. I was very disappointed.

I think that this author had a lot of good information, but needed better help from an editor in organizing and presenting it.

The first section is disorganized and hard to follow. It was intended to cover the "inspirational forces" for Art Nouveau and Art Deco jewelry (people, places, ideas, and events) but the way it was presented made the information not very valuable, at least to me.

One thing I learned---while I knew that "nouveau" meant new, I learned that "deco" meant "young.

Section 2 had some wonderful color plates of pieces of jewelry and the third section had lists of designs, motifs, and materials for "new art" jewelry.

Section 4 had "thumbnail sketches" of jewelers, jewelry designers/makers, manufacturers and retailers.

The last section was an interesting glossary of jewelry terms and types. I especially enjoyed the information about hallmarks, enamel, combs, hatpins, and purses (mesh and beaded).

Great small paperback book. Beautiful pieces of jewelry. Full of awesome
info on makers, manufactures, stone identifications, etc.
Great for the advid collector or the beginning collector.