Product Description

This text explores the pleasures and the pitfalls of collecting costume jewellery, covering methods, materials and makers from 18th-century paste to the jewels of 20th-century style-setters Schiaparelli, Tiffany and Chanel. The book contains specially commissioned photographs of necklaces, rings, brooches and bracelets. Arranged chronologically, it reveals how leaders of fashion like Sarah Bernhardt, Josephine Baker and Jackie Onassis have dictated jewellery trends, whilst the influence of exotic countries and past centuries has inspired costume jewellers to make such diverse pieces as Egyptian scarab necklaces and African-style wood masks. Included from recent years are contemporary classics such as John Galliano's bone and skull necklace and Butler & Wilson's paste lizards and snakes. A glossary of terms is provided.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #170019 in Books
• Published on: 1997-10-20
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 144 pages

Customer Reviews

An interesting, knowledgeable introduction.
This book is one I return to time and again, not only for the text but for the excellent photographs. The book is a good introduction, giving just enough information to set the jewelry into a time frame and tell you something about the designer. The illistrations are superb and really make you want to own a lot of the pieces. The authors obviously have a great deal of knowledge about the topic - but they also have a real feeling for the jewels also. I do hope they have another book in production, a much longer one!