Why did the Vikings sail to England? Were they indiscriminate raiders, motivated solely by bloodlust and plunder? One narrative, the stereotypical one, might have it so. But locked away in the buried history of the British Isles are other, far richer and more nuanced, stories; and these hidden tales paint a picture very different from the ferocious pillagers of popular repute. In this book, Eleanor Parker unlocks secrets that point to more complex motivations within the marauding army that in the late-9th century voyaged to the shores of eastern England in its sleek, dragon-prowed longships. Exploring legends from forgotten medieval texts, and across the varied Anglo-Saxon regions, she depicts Vikings who came not just to raid but also to settle personal feuds, intervene in English politics and find a place to call home. Native tales reveal the links to famous Vikings like Ragnar Lothbrok and his sons, Cnut, and Havelok the Dane. Each myth shows how the legacy of the newcomers can still be traced in landscape, place-names and local history. Meticulously researched and elegantly argued, Dragon Lords uncovers the remarkable degree to which England is Viking to its core.

This beautiful book showcases hundreds of figural silver items that were used for many purposes during the luxurious Gilded Age. These endearing and sometimes whimsical designs, shown in nearly 600 color photos, include accoutrements for the dining room, the writing desk, the sewing room, the nursery, and much more. Among the items shown and described are spoons, tea balls, napkin rings, inkwells, pens and pencils, matchsafes, cigar cutters, thimbles, chatelaines, belt buckles, and baby rattles. Historical background plus valuable information on manufacturing techniques and marks is also included. With values provided in the captions and an extensive bibliography, this is a wonderful book for new and experienced collectors of figural silver novelties.

With interest in beadweaving on the rise, Mastering Peyote provides a much-needed look into the most integral technique-peyote stitch. With 15 styles in all, beading geniuses will finally have an accessible, easy-to-understand guide to one of the fundamentals of beadweaving, brought to you courtesy of Beadwork Editor Melinda Barta. In the "Peyote Basics" chapter, you will learn the basics of creating flat peyote bands, then advance to circular and tubular variations, eventually learning to fashion dimensional jewelry pieces. Once you've mastered the basics, Melinda dives into designing dimensional jewelry pieces. Additional chapters cover combining peyote with other popular beadweaving techniques (right-angle weave, herringbone, and bead embroidery) and creating unique edgings and embellishments for finished pieces. Melinda, together withBeadwork's Designers of the Year, including Jean Campbell, Lisa Kan, Carole Ohl, Melanie Potter, Jean Power, Cynthia Rutledge, and Sherry Serafini, demonstrates a range of styles in 15 beautiful jewelry projects.

Copper Art Jewelry presents twentieth century designs, especially by the masters Frank Rebajes of New York and Jerry Fells, known as Renoir of California. Popular when newly created in the 1950s, these designs are avidly sought after today. Copper jewelry by other artists and manufacturers are displayed as well, along with related silver and enamel jewelry and useful objects. Enthusiasm for copper items is expanding, and this is the reference that collectors, appraisers, and art dealers have been seeking. Twentieth century styling characterizes the abstract, free-form and whimsical designs in pins, bracelets, necklaces, sets, belts and useful objects which display the artful merits of copper. Over 300 color photographs show hundreds of examples, and the original art work, advertising, identifying marks and anecdotes round out this exhaustive new study. Much of the information about Rebajes and Renoir jewelry has not been available anywhere before.

This exquisite book takes you to a jewelry Magical Kingdom of theatrical beauty, showcasing dazzling Juliana crystal jewelry made by William DeLizza and Harold Elster from 1947 to the 1990s. Over 375 color photographs display the largest collection of striking Juliana jewelry ever brought together, revealing many rare, highly sought after, and coveted pieces. Lavish designs have components of great quality: amazing art glass, incredible intaglios and cameos, mesmerizing margaritas, dramatic dangles, ravishing rivoli and rhinestones, and distinctive Juliana figural brooches. Information is provided on the makers, design elements, and construction techniques, with details to assist in identification. Captions are provided with a value guide. Useful information on techniques for the repair and restoration of the jewelry, storage and care, and specific terminology are included. This is an inspiring book for seasoned collectors and novices who are beginning the fantastic voyage into the world of Juliana jewelry.

This comprehensive and ambitious workshop reference book for jewelers brings together a vast range of skills, techniques and technical data in one volume, providing an essential one-stop look-it-up resource for both students and professionals. The focus is on detailed explanation - with clear step-bystep photography used extensively - which means that while this book contains the expert techniques aimed squarely at professional jewelers, it is also accessible to students of any level seeking an authoritative and comprehensive bible of their craft.

Now available in paperback, this book devotes itself exclusively to rings, considering them thematically rather than chronologically. The author, a world expert, has rich historical and literary knowledge. As she considers rings in all their forms she makes us delight in them as works of art, and makes their context come alive through paintings, drawings and vivid quotations.

A new, larger format edition of the Royal School of Needlework's classic reference work on beadwork embroidery. Shelley Cox presents an expert guide to all aspects of bead embroidery, including information on counted thread beadwork, bead embroidery, beaded surface embroidery, and fringing. Here you will find stitches and technique for every sort of needlework that involves beads. Decorative effects are explored too, making this a fantastic source book and an invaluable reference for beadwork. The Royal School of Needlework (RSN) teaches hand embroidery to the highest standard and is well respected all over the world. It not only upholds the traditions of English embroidery that go back many hundreds of years, but is constantly taking embroidery forwards in new and innovative ways. This series of Essential Stitch Guides has been produced in close collaboration with the RSN with the aim of providing a set of definitive works on traditional embroidery techniques. All of the authors were chosen by the RSN and all are graduate apprentices of the Royal School.

For more than a century, Rolex has stood apart as the most legendary brand of watch in the world. A Rolex conveys many things: a luxury timepiece, a tool of power for movers and shakers and the symbol of passage into adulthood. New labels pop up, styles come and go, but the brand at the top never changes. Ever the record setter-the Daytona that had belonged to Paul Newman was auctioned by Phillips in New York in October 2017 for $17.8 million- it comes as no surprise that Rolex is the most collected watch brand in the world. The Vintage Watch Company is the only store of its kind in the world, with a devoted client base of devoted Rolex aficionados, from royalty to sporting legends to stars of the silver screen. Throughout, father and son, John and David Silver have been carefully cataloguing and amassing one of the largest pictorial records of vintage Rolex watches in the world. Published to celebrate the company's 25th anniversary in late 2020, the book contains a unique pictorial collection of vintage Rolex watches that have passed through the shop during the past 25 years. More than 1800 watches have been photographed and are described in detail in the book. From early Rolex pocket watches to the world's first wristwatches, elegant in their simplicity yet revolutionary in their impact, to the very first Submariners, iconic Daytonas and jewel-encrusted Crown Collections, the mesmerizing archive of vintage timepieces charts the extraordinary rise of an extraordinary brand. Choose from the First Rolex Submariner, later coined the James Bond, or the Early GMT-Master made for Pan Am transatlantic pilots. Read about the First Explorers made famous by the 1953 Everest Expedition or the later Explorer II worn by Steve McQueen. Marvel at Early Vintage collections, from the Officer's Pocket Watch to the Ladies' Diamond; from the Oyster and the Stella & Stone collections, to the Sport Collection. This book is a perfect gift for all lovers of luxury retail as well as passionate collectors of Rolex watches who will want to read about the models they own.

The first comprehensive and authoritative history of the Koh-i-Noor, arguably the most celebrated and mythologised jewel in the world. On 29 March 1849, the ten-year-old maharaja of the Punjab was ushered into the magnificent Mirrored Hall at the centre of the great fort in Lahore. There, in a public ceremony, the frightened but dignified child handed over great swathes of the richest country in India in a formal Act of Submission to a private corporation, the East India Company. He was also compelled to hand over to the British monarch, Queen Victoria, perhaps the single most valuable object on the subcontinent: the celebrated Koh-i Noor diamond. The Mountain of Light. The history of the Koh-i-Noor that was then commissioned by the British may have been one woven together from gossip of Delhi bazaars, but it was to become the accepted version. Only now is it finally challenged, freeing the diamond from the fog of mythology that has clung to it for so long. The resulting history is one of greed, murder, torture, colonialism and appropriation told through an impressive slice of south and central Asian history. It ends with the jewel in its current controversial setting: in the crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Masterly, powerful and erudite, this is history at its most compelling and invigorating.

Diamonds tell stories that are captivating and timeless. On the one hand, they are just stones, pieces of pure carbon with optical properties that make them glitter and sparkle like stars. On the other, they are mystical entities hypnotically drawing the viewer into a time machine as it were, wherein a cinematic montage of their journey unfolds. Diamonds Across Time presents a sweeping overview of diamonds across time and space, featuring ten essays by world-renowned scholars in love the stone. Here, these authors present new discoveries; explore extraordinary collections; investigate histories, science, and trade; the nature of diamonds; legendary gems, jewellery collections, and great designers. Above all, they tell the human stories that underpin the adoration of diamonds. Diamonds Across Time is a richly illustrated publication with high-quality images of gems and jewels, archival documents, rare drawings, and fabulous photographs. The volume places diamonds in the context of the time in which they were discovered, and on the political, social, and cultural stage on which their histories were etched. In a rapidly changing world, diamonds are eternal. They were created by nature and grew in the womb of the earth. They tell stories, and they record history. With this book, diamonds will finally have their own storytellers. The book was compiled and edited by the World Diamond Museum's chief curator and world-renowned jewellery expert Dr. Usha R Balakrishnan. She and nine other distinguished authors wrote ten monographs written in the order in appearance: Introduction; The Nizam Diamond: Bala Koh-i-Noor, in the Sacred Trust of the Nizam of Hyderabad - Usha R. Balakrishnan; Diamonds of the French Crown Jewels: Between East and West - Francois Farges; A Concise History of Diamonds from Borneo - Derek J. Content; Indian Diamonds and the Portuguese Duriing the Rise of the Mughal Empire - Hugo Miguel Crespo; Two Large Diamonds from India - Jack Ogden The Romanov Diamonds: History of Splendour - Stefano Papi; The Londonderry Jewels, 1819-1959 - Diana Scarisbrick; Dress to Impress in Southeast Asia - Rene Brus; Powerful Women, Important Diamonds - Ruth Peltason; One in Ten Thousand: The Unique World of Coloured Diamonds - John M. King.

Breathe new life to the timeless craft of friendship bracelets with 101 customizable designs! Learn how to make personalized gifts for your friends by adding names, inspiring words, special messages, pictures, shapes, symbols, and other meaningful images and sentiments that will give your bracelet making as one-of-a-kind style! From the author of the best-selling Friendship Bracelets 101 and Friendship Bracelets 102, this complete guide will show you how to take your knotted, personalized crafts to the next level! Also included is an inspiring tutorial on how to make your own original pattern. Featuring all the basics you need to know, step-by-step instructions, coordinating photography, and an inspirational gallery of fun designs, this book lets you celebrate your friendships and give them a bracelet they'll love! Author Suzanne McNeill has written more than 230 craft and hobby books that share her passion for creating. Designer, artist, columnist, TV personality, publisher, art instructor, and winner of the Craft and Hobby Association's Industry Achievement Award, Suzanne has been called "the Trendsetter" of the arts and crafts industry.

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.

Silver, porcelain and ruby glass seem unlikely bedfellows, yet the objects in the Zilkha Collection are all united by the medium of silver or luxury metalwork. The objects were also made, for the most part, over about a century and a half. All of them tell a fascinating story of the particular circumstances that produced them: a maker, a workshop, a patron. They also tell the wider story of the society that made them necessary or desirable; the science that made them possible; and of their survival down the centuries. Therefore their appeal is more than just aesthetic, and their design and decoration often speak of the intellectual or religious climate of their time. This book, which will be of interest to serious students of the decorative arts, has a wider purpose too: it aims to show something of these old objects in the context of an early twenty-first-century Californian home and in the lives and interests of the collectors who have brought them together.

Steampunk has captured the imagination of thousands who are searching for a unique style symbolic of a richly inspired, post-apocalyptic world drawn from the heavy machinery of the Victorian age. With clear instruction, step-by-step sequences, and over twenty-five projects, this practical book shows you how to access that world and make unique jewellery and accessories that will complete an outfit and transport you to another era, full of excitement, potential and extravagance.

Discover the ultimate technique-based guide for one of the top trends in jewelry making--chain maille. In "Chain Maille Jewelry Workshop," you'll find more than two dozen techniques for making today's most popular chain maille weaves--from simple chains to beaded wonders to intricate Dragonscale.

Jewelry artist and author Karen Karon pairs in-depth, step-by-step instructions with color illustrations that show exactly where to place the next jump ring. You'll also get a thorough but flexible approach to techniques that prove weaving can be done in a multitude of ways and demonstrations on "speed weaving," which is ideal for large projects. Designs progressively increase in complexity, so every jewelry maker--beginner or pro--will find inspiration and projects that suite their skill level.

What's more to love? Every chapter provides a unique jewelry project and a plethora of design advice, visual inspiration, shortcuts, tips, and tricks, as well as guidance for attaching clasps and findings. It's no wonder that "Chain Maille Jewelry Workshop" is the ideal resource for innovation and originality in chain maille jewelry making.

The book is an illustrated collection of projects carried out in silver and gold reflecting the many interesting personal stories that combine people with a place of significance portrayed in miniature for a special event in their lives. This is the story of forty years of making architecturally-based silverware, from small domes and columns on stud earrings to larger bespoke presentation pieces. The author charts her development from student days to acquisitions by the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts amongst others. Her insights into how to render buildings such as the Pantheon in Rome, the Sydney Opera House or Oxford's Sheldonian Theatre into a brooch, a ring or a box make fascinating reading.

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 ultimate guide to core jewellery-making techniques, packed with unique (and money-saving) tips. This book gives you an overview of core jewellery-making techniques and helps you to achieve the same results as traditional methods with easier and cheaper alternative solutions. Each chapter is packed with unique ideas on how you can make tasks simpler, quicker or less expensive, and produce beautiful pieces. There are instructions for adapting and making your own problem-solving tools and jigs from everyday items, and tips on identifying potential pitfalls in a project and avoiding costly mistakes. Practical and in a step-by-step format, this book includes over 50 fully illustrated projects and detailed explanations of tools and working techniques.

This is the third book in a series devoted to the splendid jewelry collection of the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris. Following on from Flora and Fauna, the theme this time is the human figure, perhaps the most intimate and involving of subjects. Jewelry has always been a vehicle for the deepest of human emotions: remembrance, faith, devotion, love, belonging and mourning. The museum's collection begins in the Byzantine era and ranges through the medieval and Renaissance periods and beyond, with mythological figures and biblical scenes represented on pendants and rings. In the 19th century, Rene Lalique, Alphonse Fouquet and the Maison Vever produced brooches and necklaces that were the very embodiment of elegant sophistication and technical brilliance, while in the 20th century, artists such as Pablo Picasso and Alberto Giacometti joined jewelers like Jean Lurcat, Line Vautrin and Claude Lalanne in creating works that interpret the body in a deeply personal way. Wonderfully photographed by Jean-Marie del Moral, Figures is packed with striking and witty works of art that will charm all lovers of jewelry.

Create your own fashion accessories and jewelry through 20 DIY macrame projects. Illustrated step-by-step directions for projects at three different skill levels will guide you through the making of your own unique scarves, handbags, belts, decorative embellishments, and jewelry, including bracelets and necklaces. Give your designs a unique, personal style by choosing from a wide variety of materials, including satin cotton, wool, rattan, and fancy yarns. Illustrated descriptions of the basic knots used in macrame are provided, as well as information about knitting techniques, color selection, and creating embellishments for textiles, such as fringe and netting. This book is perfect for both beginner and seasoned hobbyists who want to learn a new craft and the fashionista who wants to create her own fashion accessories.

Silversmithing for Jewellery Makers is a lusciously illustrated book that offers an authoritative, inspirational insight into the art and craft of silver jewellery making for today's artisan. Now updated with new information, project inspiration and profiles of renowned jewellers, this remains the go-to book on silver jewellery making. Covering all the main skills, treatments and techniques, this comprehensive guide leaves nothing out. From soldering to engraving, every technique is explained with a detailed overview, followed by a carefully-illustrated step-by-step tutorial. Traditional techniques such as filigree are examined alongside contemporary designs and profiles of world-renowned jewellers, updated in this edition to also feature Cynthia Eid, Regine Schwarzer and Ute Decker. A treasure trove of useful tips and information, the book also includes extensive sections on materials, tools and health and safety. An invaluable resource for professionals, a must-have guide for beginners and a unique source of inspiration for all levels of jewellery makers and designers, this book guarantees a strong position on the backlist.

The book couples in love have been waiting for. . .
revised and updated

" Engagement & Wedding Rings " takes the fear and anxiety out of buying an engagement or wedding ring, restoring the romance and the magic of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Inside "Engagement & Wedding Rings, " you'll find everything you need to know to select, buy and enjoy ... to truly experience the wonder and excitement that should be part of finding or creating that "perfect" ring.

Engagement & Wedding Ringsis filled with useful information to help you make the right choice, including: Romantic traditions behind engagement and wedding rings. " How to select the right design and style for you." Tricks to get what you want on a budget." Steps to compare prices properly." How to select the perfect bridal pearls." The latest cuts, ring styles and designs." Secrets to differences in diamonds and colored gemstones that may appear to be the same quality." How to select your jeweler, appraiser and insurer." What to do to protect yourself against fraud and misrepresentation what to ask and what to get in writing. "