25,000 Years of Jewelry

This opulent book reaches back 25,000 years to trace the history of jewelry from the Paleolithic era to the present day. Drawn from the extensive holdings of the Staatliche Museen in Berlin, this collection of jewelry through the ages links cultures and eras to show how the design, wearing, and collecting of personal adornment has evolved over the ages. Many of these beautiful pieces are presented for the first time in book form. They range from classic items such as necklaces, rings, and earrings to less common items with origins in non-European cultures. The book features jewelry ranging from the splendid crowns of ancient Greece, gold earrings from Babylon, and jeweled collars worn by 13th-century Islamic royalty to more modern pieces such as those contained in the imperial collection of Queen Louise of Prussia, Art Nouveau jewelry designed by Ren Lalique, and work by contemporary designers. This chronologically arranged survey includes numerous brief essays and nearly 400 illustrations with detailed captions, making it an ideal reference for anyone interested in cultural history, the history of jewelry, or the art and craft of jewelry making.