Jewelry: From Antiquity to the Present (World of Art) (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

From the simple shell beads worn by Palaeolithic hunters to the splendour of Renaissance goldwork and the sumptuousness of Art Nouveau enamels, here is a guide to the evolution of Western jewelry, concluding with the radical and experimental developments of the last three decades. Offering a survey of the entire field, the book is organized into chronological sections starting with the ancient world and progressing through the Middle Ages and the Baroque to the Belle Epoque and Art Deco eras, finally reaching the present day. The author, Clare Phillips, analyzes jewelry's changing fashions, explores its social context, and examines how it has been worn by both men and women. She shows how jewellers have responded to new sources of gems, whether emeralds from the New World or diamonds from South Africa, and to the discovery of metals such as platinum and aluminium. Masterworks by unknown craftsmen and pieces designed by individual artists such as Holbein, Pugin and Calder, are illustrated alongside the glittering products of the major jewelry houses - Cartier, Fouquet and Faberge among others.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson (May 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0500202877
• ISBN-13: 978-0500202876
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #130,038 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good general overview of the subject, September 10, 2002

By	Cas (the Idaho mountains) - See all my reviews

This is probably the best general overview one could ask of the subject of jewelry history. Starting around 30,000 BC and ending around 1988, the book (printed 1996) covers a wide variety of styles and eras. It is lavishly illustrated in color and b/w, with excellent detail. Of course, being that it is only 200 pp or so, it's not going to be able to go in depth anywhere, but it still manages to get its points across regarding trends, technology, and sociology and how they all affected jewelry styles.

The halfway point in this book is the Elizabethan era, so the entire latter half of the book falls outside SCA period. Very little indeed covers the period I'm most interested in, Italy of the 15th century. It also seems enamored with the "popular" eras -- little attention is paid to non-European countries once the Ancient Egyptian and Greco-Roman classic periods are dealt with. However, it's still a fascinating read, and a great introduction to the subject. The bibliography is quite extensive, giving the reader plenty of places to take up additional study.

In summary, I would suggest that any history or costuming enthusiast pick this up.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glorious Jewels!!, December 13, 2004

By	Georgene (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews

Usually when I buy a book on jewelry, I merely gaze longingly at the pictures. Not so with this book! I read it from cover to cover. It help my interest and provided wonderful pictures along with the history of (mostly) Western jewelry. My only complaint is I wish that ALL the pictures had been in color!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars good for a beginner, August 18, 2006

By	A. Goldstein "beginner loving it" (Florida Keys) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I am a beginning collector, It gave me a big frame and lots of information. I am still looking for a good book that helps me in buying. This is more a history.As a history book it is great.