Collector's Guide to Costume Jewelry: Key Styles and How to Recognize Them [Paperback]

Tracy Tolkien (Author), Henrietta Wilkinson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1997

This lavish appreciation of costume jewelry gives glorious insight into its history, design and the greatest makers of jewelry, while outlining the pleasures of collecting.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

After a brief history of watchmaking and tips on recognizing quality, Edwards offers alphabetically arranged essays on 55 of the most prestigious wristwatch makers. The sumptuous full-color photographs are advertisement-quality, and sometimes the text reads like a sales catalog, although no prices are given. Still, there is enough information to spark interest in would-be collectors, and a helpful glossary will help those researching single pieces they inherited. The volume on costume jewelry is one of those "introductions to appreciation" that is so well written and produced that it may very well inspire people to take a second look at their "junk" jewelry. Gorgeous, full-color photographs of more than 200 necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and brooches show stylistic details. Many are one-of-a-kind marked pieces most readers will admire here but never be able to buy, but the authors do succeed in describing characteristics of styles from the 18th-century through the present to help readers choose a favorite period to collect. Again, no prices are provided, but tips on collecting, care, and repairs and a glossary are included. Both books are excellent introductions to their topics at a good price; especially recommended for public or small libraries and as supplements to larger collections.?Therese Duzinkiewicz Baker, Western Kentucky Univ. Libs., Bowling Green
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Firefly Books (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1552091562
• ISBN-13: 978-1552091562
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 8.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,629,276 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just modern costume jewelry, but pre-1910 & nouveau., August 2, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Collector's Guide to Costume Jewelry: Key Styles and How to Recognize Them (Paperback)

This is one of the few books I have seen that includes both stunning color photos and informative text about early "paste" jewelry -- the "costume" jewelry of the pre-1910 Edwardian and Victorian eras, made to look like real gems. There is also a wonderful section on art nouveau, again in great color. About half the book focuses on more modern costume jewelry, but anyone who loves older pieces shouldn't overlook it!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great resource, July 8, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Collector's Guide to Costume Jewelry: Key Styles and How to Recognize Them (Paperback)

I love this book and have found it a great resource for my costume jewellery business.It helps to train your eye to recognise the different eras and designers and provides interesting historical detail that I now pass on to my customers. Price guides are notoriously hit and miss (the prices are either way too cheap or totally unrealistic) but this book actually teaches you things that anyone can apply to buying, selling or collecting costume jewellery. Pretty pictures too! Read and enjoy!

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Useless Book, February 15, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Collector's Guide to Costume Jewelry: Key Styles and How to Recognize Them (Paperback)

I bought this boook largely as a result of reading the other reviews.... What a big mistake. This book is TOTALLY useless for anyone interested in antiques and collectibles. It has no prices. It shows no makers marks. Identification is only possible by looking at individual pieces??? If that is the case then this book should contain thousands of items and run into several volumes. This book may be of passing interest to the art and design crown, but has no practical use for the collector. One of the worst books I have ever bought.