Bedazzled: 5000 Years of Jewelry: The Walters Art Museum by Sabine Albersmeier.
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DESCRIPTION: Paperback. Publisher: The Walters Art Museum (2005). Pages: 64. Dimensions: 7¼ x 7¼ inches; ½ pound. This brand new and exquisitely illustrated book introduces one of the great collections of jewelry, with examples of 50 key items of jewelry dating from the 1st century BC to the turn of the twentieth century. Specific terminology, when used, is always explained; each text clearly states why a particular object is important, and the jewelry selected shows an enormous range of periods, regions, artistic and stylist development, and materials.
Signature items featured in this volume include a magnificent pair of gold bracelets discovered inside a tomb in Olbia, Ukraine, and dating to the Hellenistic Period of the 1st-century BC; a pair of gold and semi-precious stone-inlaid eagle fibulae, dating from 6th-century Visigothic Spain; a cameo and gold-mounted brooch depicting Ellen Walters, made in Italy by the Saulini family around 1862; a gold Iris Corsage ornament by Tiffany & Co., and a wonderful corsage ornament of pansy blossoms executed in a combination of cast glass and plique-à-jour enamel by René Lalique, dating from 1904.
CONDITION: NEW. New oversized softcover. The Walters Art Museum (2005) 64 pages. Unblemished except for very faint edge and corner shelfwear to covers. Inside the pages are pristine; clean, crisp, unmarked, unmutilated, tightly bound, unambiguously unread. Condition is entirely consistent with a new book from an open-shelf bookstore environment such as Barnes & Noble, B. Dalton, etc. Satisfaction unconditionally guaranteed. In stock, ready to ship. No disappointments, no excuses. PROMPT SHIPPING! HEAVILY PADDED, DAMAGE-FREE PACKAGING! #7593b.
PLEASE SEE DESCRIPTIONS AND IMAGES BELOW FOR DETAILED REVIEWS AND FOR PAGES OF PICTURES FROM INSIDE OF BOOK.
PLEASE SEE PUBLISHER, PROFESSIONAL, AND READER REVIEWS BELOW.
PUBLISHER REVIEWS:
REVIEW: This illustrated book presents a selection of jewelry dating from the 2nd millennium B.C. to the early 20th century from the collection of the Walters Art Museum. The more than fifty pieces illustrated represent an enormous range of periods, regions, artistic and stylistic developments, and materials. Signature objects featured include a magnificent pair of gold bracelets encrusted with precious stones and multicolored enamel inlay discovered in a tomb in Olbia, in present-day Ukraine, and dating to the 1st century B.C.; a pair of eagle fibulae from 6th-century Visigothic Spain; and an iris corsage ornament by Tiffany & Co. decorated with 139 sapphires and other gems that was a grand prize winner at the 1900 Paris Exposition universelle.
PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS:
REVIEW: Like traveling back in time to visit the treasuries of the Medicis and the Hapsburgs.
READER REVIEWS:
REVIEW: This is a nice little book, and by little I mean 7 inches on a side square. At 64 pages it holds a lot of high quality images with full page shots and many close-ups. The text is informative without being pompous and overly wordy like many historical jewelry books written by endlessly blabbery art historians trying to flex their hyper inflated vocabularies and fill their quota of space. There is even a short glossary at the end with many useful terms for the novice jewelry historian. Despite its demure appearance this delightful book fulfills its promise of an informative and detailed review of some of the highlights of the Walters Collection. Buy this book for your library and you probably have a friend who would like it too, so maybe buy another for them.
REVIEW: Exactly what the title says it is all about history of human's self-adornment and jewelry throughout the globe, by regions (e.i. Middle East, Europe & Western Asia, etc.). How it started, shells, bones, carvings, drilling, etc. First use of metals, it connects the techniques used from one part of the world to another. The use of ceramics beads and enamels to imitate expensive stone. Where stones would have been imported from, who could afford jewelry at those times, etc. The development of styles, the influences of metal working techniques and styles that traveled from one region to other parts of the world. It mentions a 7,000 years old necklace that had obsidian in it which would have been very difficult to polish or drill with the available tools of that time. It is very interesting reading.
REVIEW: This was more than I expected. I expected photos of museum-quality pieces of jewelry, but I did not expect a book that I would peruse over and over and over! The photos are sublime, and the inspiration I have derived from this book is priceless! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is a jewelry lover, a gem enthusiast or - like me - a jewelry designer! I am eternally grateful for my dear friend who bought this for me as a gift.
REVIEW: Bedazzled is a small book with high quality photos of distinct and beautiful pieces of jewelry held by the Walters Art Museum that covers prominent periods of jewelry design. I was very impressed as I have not seen these pieces in any other books on jewelry history. It is a gem don't be deceived by the size as it is well worth owning.
REVIEW: I was fortunate enough to see this exhibit, and I'm VERY glad I bought this book to remember it by! What a great survey of jewelry through the ages! This is a must-read for any jewelry collectors (especially historical jewelry). The gorgeousness starts at the cover, and it's more delicious from there!
REVIEW: Yeah, this book bedazzled me! The book has amazing listings and images of ancient jewelry, which includes the historical and the properties of each jewels listed.
REVIEW: This is the kind of book you need when looking for inspiration. The pictures are big, crisp, and splendid. Each one contains detailed information about the size, material, and date of the piece. The variety of the pieces shows the true passion of the museum owner for jewelry.
REVIEW: I bought the book to use as inspiration for the jewelry I make. I enjoy the history of my favorite art, Beading, and it is interesting to see the timelessness of the designs as well as the artistry and technique for the ancient times.
REVIEW: A tiny little reference book loaded with a lot of history. Shows photographs of gold pieces dating back to 2BC to the 19th and 20th Centuries, collected by Henry Walters, now on exhibit. Better than anything you'll see at any of the Egyptian exhibits touring about, and an up close look at specific pieces that defined the history of jewelry.
REVIEW: I am a jewelry designer(craft) I love to use this book for inspiration when in a creating slump. Love it!
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ABOUT US: Prior to our retirement we used to travel to Europe and Central Asia several times a year. Most of the items we offer came from acquisitions we made in Eastern Europe, India, and from the Levant (Eastern Mediterranean/Near East) during these years from various institutions and dealers. Much of what we generate on Etsy, Amazon and Ebay goes to support The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, as well as some other worthy institutions in Europe and Asia connected with Anthropology and Archaeology. Though we have a collection of ancient coins numbering in the tens of thousands, our primary interests are ancient jewelry and gemstones. Prior to our retirement we traveled to Russia every year seeking antique gemstones and jewelry from one of the globe’s most prolific gemstone producing and cutting centers, the area between Chelyabinsk and Yekaterinburg, Russia. From all corners of Siberia, as well as from India, Ceylon, Burma and Siam, gemstones have for centuries gone to Yekaterinburg where they have been cut and incorporated into the fabulous jewelry for which the Czars and the royal families of Europe were famous for.
My wife grew up and received a university education in the Southern Urals of Russia, just a few hours away from the mountains of Siberia, where alexandrite, diamond, emerald, sapphire, chrysoberyl, topaz, demantoid garnet, and many other rare and precious gemstones are produced. Though perhaps difficult to find in the USA, antique gemstones are commonly unmounted from old, broken settings – the gold reused – the gemstones recut and reset. Before these gorgeous antique gemstones are recut, we try to acquire the best of them in their original, antique, hand-finished state – most of them centuries old. We believe that the work created by these long-gone master artisans is worth protecting and preserving rather than destroying this heritage of antique gemstones by recutting the original work out of existence. That by preserving their work, in a sense, we are preserving their lives and the legacy they left for modern times. Far better to appreciate their craft than to destroy it with modern cutting.
Not everyone agrees – fully 95% or more of the antique gemstones which come into these marketplaces are recut, and the heritage of the past lost. But if you agree with us that the past is worth protecting, and that past lives and the produce of those lives still matters today, consider buying an antique, hand cut, natural gemstone rather than one of the mass-produced machine cut (often synthetic or “lab produced”) gemstones which dominate the market today. We can set most any antique gemstone you purchase from us in your choice of styles and metals ranging from rings to pendants to earrings and bracelets; in sterling silver, 14kt solid gold, and 14kt gold fill. When you purchase from us, you can count on quick shipping and careful, secure packaging. We would be happy to provide you with a certificate/guarantee of authenticity for any item you purchase from us. There is a $3 fee for mailing under separate cover. I will always respond to every inquiry whether via email or eBay message, so please feel free to write.
