Movie stars first wore them, then retail pieces were made for sale to the public, and now collectors avidly search for the special jewelry of Joseff. Jewelry of the Stars takes you on a journey through and beyond the career of Joseff of Hollywood, whose extraordinary design talents contributed to over ninety-percent of the jewelry supplied for the movies during Hollywood's golden years of the 1930s, '40s and beyond. The jewelry includes the unique Joseff retail line that was sold through jewelry departments of fine stores and is widely coveted by jewelry collectors worldwide today. Jewelry of the Stars willl be treasured by movie buffs and jewelry lovers alike. It is a nostalgic glimpse of the movies that adds another dimension to the fascinating progression of jewelry design.

This book examines the art of the gold box in 18th and 19th century Europe. Distinguished international scholars explore the contributions made by individual workshops in major European centres of production in the context of contemporary patronage and the international market for such boxes. Consideration is given to the design of gold boxes with reference to the V&A's important collection of design drawings. Leading experts explore the ways in which different techniques of gold box decoration -- portrait miniatures, gems, enamels, mosaics and hard-stones -- were developed. Contributors to the volume include experts from Amsterdam, Berlin, Dresden, London, Munich, New York, Paris, Rome, and St Petersburg. Senior museum curators, auction house specialists and independent scholars illustrate and discuss examples from private and public collections in their cities and elsewhere. The result is a unique record of the state of knowledge on the European production of gold boxes and of the history of collecting. This book will appeal to international collectors, scholars, dealers, museum curators and museum visitors, and all those interested in gold and silver fine art.

This is the second volume of the definitive reference series dealing with commercial bronze sculptures in the period 1800 to 1930. This period spans the rise and decline of commercial industrial foundries in Europe, especially in France, and a wide array of international sculptors. Together, they produced millions of fine statuettes for the general public. Volume 2 includes 1025 photographs of sculptures on 272 pages with a numbered list of the sculpture categories and an essay on early twentieth-century sculptural styles by Tom Tomc of Chicago. It incorporates lists of the sculptors whose work is shown, the founders represented, and 58 different founders' seals. The photographs are remarkably clear enabeling small details in the scuptures to be visible. With this reference series, collectors will be able to identify many of the old commercial bronzes found on the market today.

Antique household items made from silver, both sterling and plated, fill these pages in over 1300 engravings from period catalogs. Detailed descriptions include pattern names and numbers, special features, and values lists. Many collecitble souvenir spoons are shown along with table items from ash trays to wine coolers. The decorative tastes of a hundred years ago are represented in these images.

This is the first publication in a single work of all known Chester punch marks, and continues the tradition of the standard volumes of Jackson, Grimwade, Culme and Pickford. It is also the first time that the twentieth-century Chester marks have been published. It is produced in dictionary format, in alphabetical order from 1570, the date of the earliest known mark, to 1962 at which time the Chester assay office was closed. The authors, both members of the silver society, were given unlimited access to the Chester assay office records covering 1686 to 1962, and to the Chester Goldsmith's Company records dating from the 16th century. The compendium has four sections. The preface provides an historical background and details of all extant records and copper plates. Part 1 is devoted to assay office marks, with a full set of date letter tables to assist the reader in dating wares. Part 2 covers nearly 10,000 entries for makers' marks, including pictograms and monograms. Finally, the appendices inclu

All of the beautiful American Indian jewelry shown in this book was actually for sale when the photographs were taken with the prices and ranges noted with each caption. Therefore, it will be useful to all enthusiasts of Indian arts, because it shows hundreds of pieces that are really available on today's marketplace. The 336 beautiful color photographs demonstrate the excellent craftsmanship in the jewelry and the text presents the variations of style to be exciting. Collectors, dealers, historians and travelers to the Southwest all will enjoy the concise and informative text and visual pleasure this book presents.

Antique silver objects made for specific uses often reside in curio cabinets but are little understood today. In the late 19th century, many unusual novelties were created for various purposes. In this new book, two experts of silver explain why and how they were used. Here are calling card receivers, cane handles, tussie mussies, perfumers, dresser sets, curling tongs, glove stretchers, ring trees, lorgnettes, skirt lifters...flasks, cigar cutters, mustache combs, watch stands...bodkins, sewing birds, hem gauges, needle cases, pin holders, spool knaves, thimbles...memo books, page turners, stamp boxes, bookmarks, paperweights, pen wipers, pounce pots...baby rattles, tongue cleaners, ear picks, medicine spoons...egg cups, muffineers, casters, and more. Now you can identify your curios and gain understanding of their uses.

In response to popular demand for this classic reference, this enlarged and renewed edition will be even more valued by historians and collectors. Long considered the "bible" by silverplate collectors, it has continued to be the most comprehensive reference in the silverplate world. This one volume contains a complete history of silverplating materials, the refining process, and design changes. Drawn from many sources, this lovely book has color illustrations as well as over 500 line cuts and black and white photographs. There is also a chapter on the care and restoration of silverplate that contains much helpful advice for the collector. This new edition features--for the first time--a price guide of current values.

The identification and dating of American jewelry heretofore has been difficult because few pieces bear standard markings and the references have been diverse, hard to find, and incomplete. Using old trade journals and their related directories as her primary sources, the eminent silver historian Dorothy Rainwater has exhaustively compiled here for the first time a comprehensive reference of jewelry trademarks and manufacturers in alphabetical order. She has also written a history of jewelry making in the United States which explains the framework upon which this enormous industry was built. The large scale manufacturers which began in the 1840s form a major portion of this directory. it is surprising to learn that only in 1961, after years of effort by the Jeweler's Vigilance Committee and the backing of trade journals, did American law require makers' marks on new jewelry. Therefore, this reference should become an important sourcebook for every jeweler, collector, antique jewelry dealer and manufacturing historian for the foreseeable future.

The American Arts and Crafts Movement flourished briefly but brilliantly during the early years of the twentieth century. It was during this era that the Heintz Art Metal Shop and its successor the Smith Metal Arts Company (Silver Crest) produced decorative bronze wares of the highest quality. Today's avid interest in Arts and Crafts furnishings and accessories has collectors searching for examples made by these two firms. This book provides collectors and dealers alike with a pictorial panorama of such Heintz and Silver Crest items as bowls, jewelry, trophies, vases, and desk pieces, as well as essential data regarding value, rarity, maker's marks, and company histories.

This is the third volume of the definitive reference series dealing with commercial bronze sculptures in the period 1800 to 1930. This period spans the rise and decline of commercial industrial foundries in Europe, especially in France, and a wide array of international sculptors. Together, they produced millions of fine statuettes for the general public. Volume 3 includes 1315 photographs of sculptures on 320 pages with information on the Hirsch Foundry of Paris and Brooklyn, New York. It incorporates lists of the sculptors whose work is shown, the founders represented, and 21 different founders' seals. The photographs are remarkably clear enabeling small details in the sculptures to be visible. With this reference series, collectors will be able to identify many of the old commercial bronzes found on the market today.

Spectacular centerpieces, tea services, and candelabras are among the gorgeous silver pieces shown in this new, beautifully illustrated book. These ware were made of coin and sterling silver, and range from compotes, pitchers, and serving trays to gravy boats and butter dishes. All of the top manufacturers of the 19th and 20th centuries are well represented, with photographs and discussions of pieces by Gorham, Kirk, Steiff and Shreve, among others. Eras of silver design are explained, with striking examples provided for Empire style, Gothic Revival, Rococo, Neoclassicism, Colonial Revival, Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts, and Art Modernism. With over 300 detailed photographs of some of the most wonderful silver hollowware ever produced, this book is a must for collectors who love to dine in formal style. Each piece is described in detail, and a current value guide is provided.

Out of print for a while, this classic reference work on antique ironware is available once again. Antique collectors, iron buffs, and industrial historians will welcome the opportunity to browse through its pages, which contain hundreds of photographs of fascinating items. Architectural hardware, lighting devices, and irons, tools, toys, weathervanes, fences and gates, and kitchen utensils are all presented, with examples taken from rarely-viewed private collections as well as major museums. Concise descriptions of each item pictured augment text that includes a great deal of historical and manufacturing information. You'll find details on the iron works at Saugus, Massachusetts; Batsto, New Jersey; Hopewell, Pennsylvania; and more. There's a discussion of the regional products of the South, Midwest, and Northeast of the United States, along with plenty of information on influences from England and Europe.

A beautifully illustrated book exploring the art of Iran and Central Asia from the 5th to the 2nd Millennium BC This richly illustrated book explores the art of ancient Iran and Central Asia between the 5th and 2nd millenniums BC, a time that proved to be one of the region's most prolific periods. Over this period, the first cities arise, strengthen their power and multiply, and undergo continuous innovation. To serve this new world, items are invented and artistry flourishes-jars for storage and transportation of goods, prestigious weapons, jewellery, ceremonial vessels and statuary. Exquisite photography and illustrations throughout the book demonstrate the skilful design and wealth of materials used to create such objects. Ancient Iran was rich in minerals, while Central Asia had precious commodities such as lapis lazuli, gold and tin. Showcasing the distinctive artistic output of the region, magnificent objects from the Sarikhani Collection and other collections come together in this illuminating book. Distributed for the Sarikhani Collection

Over 450 color photographs display thousands of signed and unsigned jewelry pieces arranged by color and designs. This book brings fact and practical advice to the joy of owning beautiful rhinestone jewelry. The repairing suggestions result from the author's experience caring for their own collections so that you, too, can learn to carefully clean, repair and store your jewelry. Current market values are with the captions.

Costume jewelry is increasingly sought-out and appreciated by a growing number of collectors. Pieces made by important designers from the sixties, seventies and eighties are the most highly prized, with . today's teenagers wearing vintage Hippie and Mod jewelry and prices are escalating. Over 600 color photographs and 60 advertising pieces are presented to display the variety in these popular adornments. Fashion and political trends are explained to show that they were reflected in the jewelry designs. Value ranges are included.

One of the nation's biggest suppliers of costume jewelry since the 1970s, Avon's vast body of work is omnipresent in the antiques and collectibles market. Authors Monica Lynn Clements and Patricia Rosser Clements have compiled a complete tour of the subject for new and old collectors alike. Avon Collectible Fashion Jewelry and Awards is an indispensable guide to the full range of Avon costume jewelry, with approximately 450 detailed color photos and current market values for more than a thousand pieces. This volume encompasses the broad range of Avon's jewelry products, from their popular holiday creations to replicas of historic masterpieces, from men's watches to children's charms, and from novelty wear to perfumed pins.

This book not only tabulates the hallmarks that enable the identification of silver items but also traces the history of English silver, describing some famous makers and provides hints on spotting fakes.' There is a helpful chapter on Sheffield plate.

The Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge, holds stunning examples of jewellery and metalwork from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This exceptional period of design covers the neo-Gothic and historicist designs of the mid- to late nineteenth century, the groundbreaking work of British Arts & Crafts designers, sinuous curves influenced by the European Art Nouveau movement and the structural modernity of the 1930s. The collection contains jewellery by some of the finest historicist designers, including the Castellani and Giuliano families and John Brogden, as well as a spectacular decanter by William Burges. There are important pieces of jewellery and silver by the most famous of Arts & Crafts designers, including C.R. Ashbee, Henry Wilson, Gilbert Marks and John Paul Cooper. Unique pieces designed by the artist Charles Ricketts hold a special place in the history of queer art in Britain, having been designed for his friends Katherine Bradley and Edith Cooper, a couple known collectively as Michael Field. Modernist silver is represented by leaders of the field Omar Ramsden and H.G. Murphy. This beautifully illustrated volume reproduces 70 of the Museum's most important pieces from this period, many previously unpublished, with comparative illustrations of some of the original designs. Importantly, the book is arranged chronologically by designer and includes biographies, a description of their work and how it changed over time, as well as commentary about the specific works in the Museum's collection. The resulting book therefore brings together for the first time the Fitzwilliam's exceptionally fine holdings of jewellery and metalwork from this highly popular and fruitful period of design.

This is the seventh edition of a book which has been for years the 'bible' of professional and amateur gemmologists, as well as retail jewellers. Originally written by Robert Webster, an expert who dedicated most of his life to the subject and who worked in the London Gem Testing Laboratory for twenty-five years, this edition has been completely revised and updated by E. Alan Jobbins, Keeper of Minerals and Gemstones at the Geological Museum in London for thirty-five years. The first part of the book is a comprehensive glossary on all aspects of gemstones and the terms associated with them. The second part includes sections on manufactured gems, the enhancement of gem materials and on the precautions necessary for avoiding damage to gemstones and jewellery during manufacturing, repairs and cleaning. There are comprehensive sets of tables of the physical constraints needed for gem testing, of the sources of gem materials and the cuts used to demonstrate their beauty. Fifteen pages of colour photographs will assist in the identification of inclusions and there are many useful conversion tables. Acknowledged as one of the most useful reference books available, this should be the vade mecum of all gemmologists.

Contains the full texts of Cardinal Francesco Gonzaga's will and the post-mortem inventory of his possessions (1483), together with related correspondence. This book analyzes these texts and provides background information about the man himself and his collections.

A beautiful book for those who love fine wristwatches. In Time in Gold, the histories of the seventeen leading luxury wristwatch companies of Switzerland are presented together for the first time, Beautifully illustrated with color and black and white photographs, Time in Gold contains over 450 important and elegant watches by these fine makers. 200 years later, the resulting wristwatches are among the most exquisite in the world today. The following companies are each presented as separate chapters: Audemars Piguet Blancpain Baume & Mercier Breguet Gerald Genta Cartier Vacheron Constantin Chopard Girard-Perregaux Corum IWC Ebel Jaeger-LeCoultre Rolex Patek Philippe Piaget Ulysse Nardin

From the bronze age to the present, molten metal has been poured into molds to create an infinite variety of forms and to serve a variety of functions. This marriage of form and function is what has made figurative cast iron so popular among collectors. This beautiful new book will give the reader insight into the creativity of the designers of cast iron which allowed the mundane objects of life to become interesting works of art and fancy. From doorstops to doorknockers, still banks to lawn sprinklers, bottle openers to bookends, their functionally was hidden in the forms of animals, flowers, buildings, people, and more. Figurative Cast Iron: A Collector's Guide documents this practical art with over 900 beautiful full-color photographs. A price guide will help make this book useful as well as pleasurable.

This gorgeous book is a delight for all who are interested in fine craftsmanship, beautiful jewelry, and the role of fashion in an ever-changing world. Costume jewelry is an intimate reflection of its age. Shaped by the attitudes and fashion of the women who wear it, this jewelry reveals their temperaments, their fantasies, and the spirit of their times. This lushly illustrated book is a comprehensive retrospective of commercial costume jewelry, from 18th century Georgian, Neo Classic, and Romantic pieces to 20th century Edwardian, Art Deco, Cocktail, and modern "Glam Rock" jewelry. It discusses in great depth the roots of jewelry movements, the cultural trends that influenced jewelry designers-industrialism, wartime, the growth of Hollywood, technological breakthroughs, and the women's movement-and the effects jewelry had on women's fashions.