First published in 1986, revised in 2006, this wonderful book surveys chronologically and by region more than 600 pieces from the collection of the British Museum. In addition, there are three specialist sections beyond jewelry for personal adornment: amuletic (protective) jewellery, cameos, and functional finger-rings.

I love this book because from these exquisite historical examples we can sense how these pieces could have inspired the greatest modern jewelry designers. I see the work of Castellani & Guiliano, Falize, Suzanne Belperron, and David Webb in this incredible trove of jewelry.

This book could be alternately be called “Jewelry: The Collection of the British Museum”, and as such is a fantastic compendium of representative examples from the history of jewelry. It would be a wonderful addition to anyone interested in the history of jewelry, or looking for a history of jewelry through the ages.


The regions and eras covered are:

The Middle East: 5000-2000 BC
The Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean and North of the Alps: 2000-1400 BC
Egypt: 1500-900 BC
Europe and Western Asia, 1400-600 BC
Phoenician, Greek, Etruscan and Persian Lands: 850-325 BC 57
China, Celtic Europe, Mexico and Peru: 600 BC-AD 600
The Mediterranean, Parthia, India, Egypt, Roman Britain and Byzantium: 325 BC- AD 600
Europe, China, Korea and Japan: AD 300-1000
Mayan Central America: AD 600-1000
Central and South America: AD 500-1500
Europe, Islam, China, Korea and Java: AD 1000-1500
Europe: AD 1500-1700
China, India, Tibet and Mongolia: AD 1500-1850
West Africa: AD 1500-1800
Europe: AD 1700-1950

свернуть