Twentieth-century Jewellery: From Art Nouveau to Contemporary Design in Europe and the United States

The most diverse anthology on jewellery, supported by technical information and a concise, authoritative and stimulating essay. The third Skira monograph dedicated to the modern decorative arts, following Italian Art Ceramics 1900-1950 and Twentieth-century Fabrics is an analysis of some 350 jewels by artists and designers operating in Europe and the United States from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present day. The work is organised chronologically, beginning with jewellery designed in the Art Nouveau period by leading figures such as Lalique and Fouquet; works produced during the Secession (in Berlin, Munich, and Vienna) by artists such as Moser and Hoffmann; splendid art deco pieces, with a look at great names such as Cartier, Boucheron, Buccellati, Cleef & Arpels and Tiffany; a study of European and American production from the 1950s; the influences of the informal artistic culture; the use of new materials and new techniques and current influences deriving from extra-European cultures and computer-driven means of expression. The spotlight is on leading art and design figures, and the working methods and styles of the most famous production houses throughout the course of the twentieth century. Key Sales Information • Outstanding photographs illustrate and illuminate examples of elaborate techniques and very original materials. • Eight sections in chronological order, with European and American objects. Every section opening with a brief introduction. • The publication includes a biography of the principal production houses, laboratories, master jewellers and designers, a glossary of technical terms, a bibliography divided by theme and an index of names. • An indispensable tool for the specialist, the collector, or anyone curious about art and jewellery. Author Alba Cappellieri is an architect and design critic. She is an associate professor of jewellery design and is director of the jewelry design specialization course at the Milan Polytechnic.