Devotes itself exclusively to rings, considering them thematically rather than chronologically. This title considers rings in all their forms and makes us delight in them as works of art, and makes their context come alive through paintings, drawings and vivid quotations.
The political and social worlds of France, England and Vienna during the period which began with the French Revolution and ended with the Second Empire are engagingly seen through the eyes of a highly intelligent Scotswoman, Margaret Mercer Elphinstone, who weds Charles de Flahaut, a Napoleonic general, against the wishes of her admiral father.
A sumptuous selection of jewelry made to adorn the head - tiaras, aigrettes and bandeaux. Emblems of success and happiness, tiaras are some of the most beautifully crafted jewelry pieces of the past two centuries. The House of Chaumet has continuously excelled in this art, from the papal tiara offered by Napoleon to Pius VII, to the hundreds of hair adornments created over the last decades, always reflecting the period's most formidable fashions and decorative arts. An exquisite selection from unknown Chaumet archives representing the most aesthetic portraits of head jewelry, the book is an inspiring look at Chaumet's wondrous adornments. The author traces the evolution of these jewels from the 18th century to present, featuring the outstanding personalities for whom they were made and the great events at which they were worn.
The Griffin Collection is a distinguished private collection that houses examples of every category of ring—signet, devotional, memorial, decorative—dating from antiquity to modern times. This book, which focuses on about 150 rings in that collection, is concerned with perhaps the most those associated with love and marriage. The majority of these are gold bands inscribed with English mottoes expressing admiration, affection, and pledges of fidelity. Known as posies, these rings were popular from the late Middle Ages until the middle of the nineteenth century, and they help reveal the social etiquette and customs of their time. In this first fully illustrated catalog of posy rings, Diana Scarisbrick traces the changes in relations between the sexes from the fifteenth century, when the cult of courtly love was superseded by an idealization of monogamous marriage, to the twentieth century, when a different moral outlook took hold. Small though they are in scale, the rings hold enormous significance, and they have much to tell us about the past.
Exploring the intricate relationship between diamond jewelry and European royalty, this beautifully illustrated social history reveals the fascinating tales of rulers and socialites who commissioned and adorned themselves with these stunning pieces. It delves into the cultural significance and evolving trends of diamond jewelry, highlighting how these exquisite adornments reflected power, status, and personal narratives throughout history.
The Collection was begun by the First Duchess of Northumberland in the early eighteenth century; but the greater part of it was made later in the century by Algernon Percy, First Earl of Beverley, during a tour of Europe while in the company of his mentor, Louis Dutens. Their success in France and Italy was such that it incited the jealousy of the Empress Catherine of Russia, herself a passionate collector. The range of objects - cameos, intaglios and finger rings of the highest quality - is considerable: Greek, Roman and Etruscan, as well as a notable assemblage of neoclassical signed gems by British artists. One jewel clearly provided inspiration for Michelangelo's painting of Adam on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. The Collection is little known, except by connoisseurs, but this volume brings to the attention of a broader audience many of the finest products of one of the oldest arts of the western world.
Accompanying an exhibition at Les Enluminures, New York, this lavish catalogue presents an extraordinary collection of diamonds from the king of gems, Benjamin Zucker, one of New York's leading dealers in diamonds and precious stones.
