Antique and Twentieth Century Jewellery - A Guide for Collectors

An important study of both well-known and forgotten jewellery fashions and trends. It aims to spotlight areas of collectability - mainly from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries - which are available to enthusiasts today. Each chapter - there are now 22 in this Second Edition - concentrates on a specific topic, but there is a comprehensive cross-referencing to other chapters. There are 71 colour plates and over 270 black and white illustrations. Almost every item shown has been for sale within the last few years. Among the types of jewellery covered are: diamond brooches, coral, 19th century gold-work, piqué, silver jewels, cameos and intaglios, mosaics, Edwardian pendants and unusual materials. 'Theme' jewellery is another area described with an amazing variety of representations of animals or flowers, as well as pieces inspired by Etruscans, ancient Egyptians and Scotland.

The 'name' jewellers - who played such an important part in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements - are described; as well as the large amounts of jewellery produced by the great houses like Cartier, Tiffany, Falize and Van Cleef & Arpels. Finally the important 'movements' - Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, including Liberty's huge output, and Art Deco - are assessed. To these have been added an important chapter on Retro Modern - the cocktail jewellery of the 1940s - the best of which has become eminently collectable.