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The twentieth century was a unique period in the history of jewelry when world events and social changes combined with technological advances to produce an immense variety of styles and materials. Christie's Twentieth-Century Jewelry relates the compelling story of jewelry over the last hundred years - from precious stones to costume jewelry - and of the people who designed and wore it.
Each decade is covered in detail with photographs of exquisite examples of each period - from the sensual Art Nouveau designs of the early 1900s through the cheaper yet equally innovative pieces of the war years to the sculptural one-of-a-kind works born of a marriage of jewelry, art, and technology at the end of the century. Fascinating special features include topics such as cultured pearls, the enduring appeal of diamonds, and important collections such as the magnificent di Portanova jewels. The book also offers advice to collectors on what to look for when buying jewelry, and includes a glossary of terms and a detailed analysis of a diamond's four C's: cut, color, clarity, and carat.
Christie's jewelry experts David Lancaster and Sally Everitt have created an authoritative yet accessible guide that is a perfect companion to the subject and a must for all jewelry collectors and enthusiasts.
