Jewels of books—January 8, 2010
Throughout history, jewelry styles have been influenced by wars, the economy, the periods’ fashion trends and many notable events. The Hastings Public Library has many jewelry identification and price guides as well as current “how to make your own” jewelry guides.
The book “Antique and Twentieth Century Jewellery” by Vivienne Becker, spotlights jewelry fashions and trends from the 18th century on. Becker divides her book into types of jewelry such as diamonds, coral, gold-work, silver, cameos and other unusual materials. Added chapters include themes such as mourning, flowers, animals and more. Find values of collectible items in “Answers to Questions About Old Jewelry 1840-1950” by C. Jeanenne Bell and “Warman’s Jewelry: Identification and Price Guide” by Christie Romero.
Read more about the history of jewelry in the books “Greek and Roman Jewellery” by Filippo Coarelli and “The Queen’s Jewels” by Leslie Field. “Jewelry: History and Technique from the Egyptians to the Present” by Guido Gregorietti highlights the importance of gold and many other rare jewels in various civilization.
As secretary of state, Madeleine Albright’s pins became part of her diplomatic signature. When Saddam Hussein called her “an unparalleled serpent,” Albright started making diplomatic statements with her jewelry. She chose to wear a snake pin when she met with Iraqi officials. A zebra pin was appropriate to wear when she met with Nelson Mandela and an eagle with a pearl pin when she met with former President, George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush. Albright’s book comes complete with a “pindex.”
Want to make your own jewelry? Try making necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, pins, key chains, and more from the book “Jewelry Making & Beading for Dummies” by Heather Dismore or “Jewelry Making Manual” Sylvia Wicks. Learn to use specific materials using “Making Silver Chains: Simple Techniques, Beautiful Designs” by Glen F. Waszek or “The New Clay: Techniques and Approaches to Jewelry Making” by Nan Roche. Experiment with advanced techniques from the book “The Design and Creation of Jewelry” by Robert Von Neumann.
See colorful photos of many historic pieces of jewelry and discover the fascinating stories behind the art of jewelry at the Hastings Public Library.
