The Penland Book of Jewelry: Master Classes in Jewelry Techniques [Hardcover]

Marthe Le Van (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2005 | Series: Penland

For 75 years, the Penland School has attracted the greatest minds in crafting, and now its artists have created a real jewel of a collection.

From the premier academy for fine crafting comes a third showstopper: a splendidly photographed guide that offers a combination of how-to manual, gorgeous coffee table book, and reflective essays. On breathtaking display are the skills and works of 10 contemporary jewelers who have taught at the school; each artist possesses a special expertise that makes him or her a leader in the field. From John Cogswell's handsome forged metal to Heather White's innovative casting, from Marilyn daSilva's unique use of color to Doug Harling's meticulous granulation of fine gold, the material here is eye-opening and inspirational. Their combined knowledge, thoughtful writing, and stunning pieces make for a one-of-a-kind volume that will aid both jewelers and collectors, and astonish anyone who loves jewelry.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“An extraordinary exploration of jewelry making, the creative process, and reflections on life itself  — a lovely, thoughtful and inspiring book.” — Charlene Sevier

 

“The Penland Book of Jewelry is a remarkable book showing the work and techniques of master artisans. Believe me when I tell  you this is a MUST have book. Every master in her or his own craft has incredible information and wonderful images..” — Lorena Angulo blog

 

"I cannot do justice to these inspirational books! Every single page evokes emotion! I must admit it is the same deep emotion that wells up in me, whenever I wander through an art museum. Each page causes me to pause and admire it for more than a moment. I promise, the caliber of artistry will take your breath away! There are hours upon hours of motivational brilliance in each of these books." — Metal Clay Today

 

“The esteemed Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina has produced an incredible book by ten master jewelers who are also Penland instructors. This glossy, 9 x 12-inch book explains in detail multiple metalsmithing processes, including electroforming, etching, and hydraulic forming, through beautiful photography in a step-by-step format. The book also covers forging, steel fabrication, lost wax casting, gold alloying, mold making, the use of alginate molds, and goldsmithing basics of rolling sheet and wire from ingots. In addition to its too-pretty-to-be-used-in-the-studio appearance, the book offers a Gallery section in each chapter, where each instructor shares work by fellow artists whom he or she admires. This book is a must-have for anyone who likes to connect written information with clear illustration. The Penland Book of Jewelry fills in crucial information often lacking in this genre, primarily due to each instructor's willingness to share the tricks and techniques that have brought him or her acclaim.” — Art Jewelry

 

“I love The Penland Book of Jewelry. It has been a favorite of mine since it was first published in 2005. Lark recently released it in a sturdy paperbound version. In this book, you'll experience the teaching of Marilyn da Silva, John Cogswell, and Tom McCarthy to name a few, along with seven other wonderfully talented instructors. The book is filled with page after page of inspiration. If you're a jewelry lover, you won't be disappointed..” — Catherine Davies Paetz blog

 

“Ten jewelry artists who have taught at the Penland School of Crafts--Marilyn da Silva, John Cogswell, Jaime Pelissier, Rob Jackson, Heather White van Stolk, Jan Baum, Tom McCarthy, Maria Phillips, Mary Ann Scherr, and Douglas Harling--instruct in their area of expertise and give insight into the creative process. Each artist's chapter contains an illustrated hands-on section; an essay describing the person's history, inspirations, and working method; and a gallery of other artists' work. Overall, more than 75 artists' works are pictured.” — American Craft

“Each artists’ profile describes not only the roots of their inspiration but photos of many of their beautifully crafted pieces to inspire others to start their own journey of learning, collaborating, and teaching others.” — Craft Gossip --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Marthe Le Van has written, edited, or curated more than 30 books. She is a member of the Art Jewelry Forum, The Society of North American Goldsmiths and the Precious Metal Clay Guild. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 232 pages
• Publisher: Lark Books (October 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579906982
• ISBN-13: 978-1579906986
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #781,544 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Marthe Le Van is an editor for Lark Jewelry. Since 2000, she has written, edited, juried, or curated more than 40 titles. The books she's authored on making jewelry include 30-Minute Earrings, 30-Minute Necklaces, Stitched Jewels, Prefab Jewelry, Fabulous Jewelry from Found Objects, and The Art of Jewelry: Paper Jewelry. Marthe has also served as the editor for all jewelry books in Lark's popular "500" series, as well as the juror for 500 Wedding Rings and the curator for Masters: Gold. She is a member of the Art Jewelry Forum and the Society of North American Golsmiths. She lives in Asheville, North Carolina.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

107 of 109 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Master classes for serious jewelry designers!, November 3, 2005

By 

Sharilyn Miller (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Penland Book of Jewelry: Master Classes in Jewelry Techniques (Hardcover)

This is one of those gorgeous coffee-table books that surprises you with more than just bowls full of eye-candy: there's actual substance to be found within, in the form of several interviews with leading jewelry designers and their valuable tutorials on various jewelrymaking methodologies.
Thus the subhead: Master Classes in Jewelry Techniques. For once, a smart publisher has produced a technically challenging book of jewelrymaking ideas! It's not for beginners, and thank goodness for that.
You'll learn forging, alloying, fabricating with steel, casting, granulation, electroforming, alternative stone setting, and much more from some of the most innovative jewelry artists working today. Their tutorials, coupled with the stunning photography of their wonderfully creative yet still wearable jewelry, makes The Penland Book of Jewelry an exceptional, must-have resource.

57 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for those interested in metal techniques.., March 25, 2006

By 

B. K. Oas (New Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Penland Book of Jewelry: Master Classes in Jewelry Techniques (Hardcover)

Loved the book. I purchased it as the book I would use for a university course-assigned "book report" in Art Studio: Small Metal Construction II. I chose to present information about the book contents to the class and then offered a review of it as a resource book for small metal artists. The ten Penland School instructors featured are masters of the techniques that they present. They offer detailed information about how they came to their favored approaches, what has influenced them in their artistic direction, and include lots of insider advice on modifications and adaptation of the techniques. I will admit that I don't always read the text of art books, but these entries were very inspiring. The step by step pictoral "HANDS ON" sections of one application of each artist's technique give the kind of detail that is hard to come by in most art books (e.g., 25 steps--as a student learning about small metals, this is reality based if you want a final result that looks as wonderful as these artists' end products)! The reader gets a really good sense of the many things that must be considered in applying the technique skillfully. The gallery sections in which each artist has asked colleagues they admire to provide other examples give the reader a sense of the breadth of the application of the technique. At the end of my book review and after looking at the book themselves, several people in the class said they were going to buy it for themselves. What a wonderful book! Go Penland!

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational and informative, February 24, 2006

By 

acltaos (Taos, NM, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Penland Book of Jewelry: Master Classes in Jewelry Techniques (Hardcover)

This book is a great addition to the serious metalsmith's library. The work of several Penland-associated artists is showcased in full-color photographs and their techniques are explained in easy-to-understand text. If you want to expand your notion of what jewelry is, get some ideas for future projects, or learn some new techniques, this is a wonderful book to buy.