The animal kingdom has been a source of inspiration for jewelers since the days of antiquity. Chosen for their symbolism, their beauty or their personality, a whole menagerie of creatures has been depicted in gemstones and precious metals, ranging from fantastical dragons, griffins and sphinxes, to wild beasts such as boars and big cats, to the delicate forms of birds, fish and even insects. The 130 pieces in this book have been specially selected from the magnificent jewelry collection of the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, and include necklaces and earrings, bracelets and brooches by legendary names such as Boucheron, Falize and Lalique. They stretch from the Renaissance revival of the 19th century to the elegant lines of Art Nouveau and beyond, through to the playful naivety of modernist designs by Jean Lurcat and Line Vautrin. Beautifully photographed by renowned photographer Jean-Marie del Moral, this second title in the series that began with Flora: The Art of Jewelry is packed with clever and witty works of art that will delight all lovers of jewelry and nature.

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.