No comments about Jewelry & Metalwork in the Arts & Crafts Tradition: 2nd Edition, Revised.

No comments about Ojime Magical Jewels of Japan.

1 comments about Hallmark: A History of the London Assay Office.

1. J.S. Forbes spent some thirty years as head of the London Assay office in charge of testing and marking silver and gold objects. The volume, which has been thoroughly researched traces the history of the assaying of silver objects from the thirteenth century to the present. Although limited to the London assay office the book necessarily traces the work of all the assay offices. The author shows how silver objects were tested for metal content and then marked with the sterling standard for 925 grams of silver per 1000 or with the Britannia standard for a higher silver content. He then shows the development of the symbols,i.e. the lion passant for steling, the symbol for the city of London, and the addition of the date year. Interestingly, the date year is a great benefit to the collector and historian who thereby knows the exact date of production. However, the year was added so that if articles were found to be below standard the officers in charge for that year could be identified. Forbes shows how the Goldsmnith's Company in LKondon gained and retained control of the hallmarking to the present day. The book is clearly written and well researched. It is a miust for anyone interested in English silver and is unlikely to be replaced as a standard refernce work.

1 comments about Masterpieces from the House of Fabergé.

1. When Peter Carl Faberge made the decision to move away from conventional jewelry and focus on the elegant and amusing baubles that were the conversation of their day, he probably never dreamed that his creations would set the standard of objets de luxe for all time. This book is a marvelous compendium of photographs, essays, historical details and commentary by the world's foremost collectors and purveyors of these fantasy creations. Gorgeous photography and rich printing on heavy paper stock make this book a collector's item as well.
   
   Excerpted from the inside flap:
   Alexander von Solodkoff, author of this book and an expert on Russian objects, formerly with Christie's, London, has seen many of the treasured Faberge pieces come up for auction. Here he tells the fascinating story of the rise of the House of Faberge and in particular of Carl Faberge, son of the founder, whom the Dowager Empress Marie Feodorovna once called "an incomparable genius."
   
   Christopher Forbes, who has himself written and edited several books on the subject, presided over this one, securing enlightening chapters by Paul Schaffer of A La Vieille Russie in New York and A. Kenneth Snowman of Wartski, London, the eminent dealers whose firms helped to form many of the outstanding Faberge collections of the world. A chapter on the reign of Russia's last czar, Nicholas II, by historian Marilyn Pfeifer Swezey illuminates not only the subject matter of the Fifteenth Anniversary Egg but also the period and world of Faberge.
   
   A complete catalogue (as of publication time) of the growing FORBES Magazine Collection, a chronology, and a list of Faberge workmasters and their marks make this a useful reference book for the collector as well as a glittering presentation of some of the most dazzling examples of the jeweler's art created in the past century.

No comments about Vintage & Contemporary Purse Accessories: Identification & Value Guide.

5 comments about The Official Price Guide to Costume Jewelry, 3rd edition (Official Price Guide to Costume Jewelry).

1. Not for the beginner or if you are looking for to identify the less expensive pieces.



2. I have used many price guides and this is one which I do not recommend. It is helpful with designer names but that's about it!!! I have not found it to be very helpful with specific pieces of costume jewelry...



3. This seems to be an excellent overview of costume jewelry. The books content includes not only hundreds of Black & white example photos but manufacturing/designer marks and history as well estimates on pricing and advice on spotting fakes. This book is probably your best bet if you are only going to get one because of how much ground it covers.



4. An exceptional book on vintage costume jewelry. Expert advice on care techniques, dating jewelry and information on noted designers. Gorgeous examples of representative jewelry. I am both a collector and seller of vintage jewelry, Harrice's books are my bibles and accompany me wherever I go on jewelry haunts. I consider this book a must have for the beginner through the experienced collector to familiarize them with not only vintage cosutme jewelry but how to provide many years of enjoyment from your jewelry by taking expert care. I cannot rate Ms. Miller's book highly enough. This is my 3d book by Harrice Miller.



5. I found this book to have a lot of interesting information. It included more practical advice on the cleaning,repairing and care of jewelry than most books do. The problem I had with this book is that most of the pictures were black and white. On costume jewelry examples, it loses so much when it doesn't show their color! The beautiful color ranges are the main reason I collect costume jewelry. The small colored picture section was nice. I just would have liked to see all of the pictures look this way. I also didn't like when several examples were shown as a group with a price range that served for all of them. Which price went with which pin?

1 comments about Cuff Links.

1. I didn't find this book helpful. Few photos and limited info. May be a nice read if you just want to learn about cuff links. Not useful as a reference.

1 comments about Plastic Jewelry.

1. I am a novice jewelry collector and recently purchased this book as a reference.

   The pictures helpful in identifying types of material and the forward on the evolution of plastic jewelry was interesting. The authors describe some types of plastic jewelry found on the market, inluding natural and synthetic material, including how to tell types by touch. They did not include "feel" for all materials and a corresponding example would have been useful.

   Also, I was looking for more information about bakelite, celluloid and lucite, which are not included in the descriptions as separate types of plastics. They do include photographs of lucite and bakelite items. Further, some of the photographs just refer to items as plastic, which is easy to tell. The difficult part is figuring out which type of plastic the item is!

   Price guidelines seem inflated, but I have seen some of the items sold for the amounts noted. I have not realized these amounts. Also, there is no index.

   Overall , I like the book for photo and price reference, but would recommend a new collector purchase more than just this book for guidance.

5 comments about Mourning Art & Jewelry (Schiffer Art Book).

1. Great book if you wish to know what you are buying when looking at genuine articles from the Era of the Civil War. Many people try to pass off other totally incorrect items as "Civil War" when they are not sure, so YOU must be sure before you spend your hard earned money. This research is key to saving your funds. Fun too because you can also find great buys this way. Many people will sell their inheritance items for very little as they don't think they would ever wear them, and can't understand why they should hang on to Great Great Grandmother's brooch or pendant when to their eyes it is ugly. Different, yes, ugly? No. Victorian jewelry is very chic these days and people are collecting even the costume jewelry made to copy the good pieces that the common people could not afford back then. These items are still affordable and fun to wear and own. You just have to know what to buy and what NOT to buy. This book will help a lot with that.



2. If you want to read the best book ever written on this subject then this is the book for you!! The Author has researched in detail the history of Mourning and has included photographs that are absolutely beautiful. I saw items in this book that brought tears to my eyes. The reader will learn not only the history of Mourning, they are able to see what people wore, displayed and kept as mementos of their deceased loved ones. This is a complete book of times past. I not only recommend this book for those that study the history of this subject but for those who want to read and see the beauty and sentimentality of those that have gone before! A true experience!



3. I had hoped this would be more than just a history book of mourning jewelry. More examples, much more, would have been the perfect "history" of what was produced during the "mourning jewelry period". I was dissappointed with this entire book.



4. This is the seminal and most comprehensive book on mourning art and jewelery ever written. The photography is outstanding. It gives values for the items. The author has expert knowledge in every facet of mourning covered. This publication is huge, and beautiful, and so unique. You will not regret buying this book.



5. This is an outstanding book. It is filled with beautiful photographs; and is not only informative and fascinating, but quite moving. The overriding impression is the transformation of the pain and grief of loss into works of incredible beauty.
   I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone interested in mourning customs, art, clothing & jewelry; and/or history in general. Although a bit expensive, this book is worth every penny. I was simply amazed by the number and variety of items pictured, and the text often brought tears to my eyes. These were all the more poignant to me when I lost my own mother December 2004; and this book has inspired me to have a memorial piece made for her.

No comments about The Brueghels.