"Although less well-known today, European jewellery - jewellery worn with traditional or national costume - was highly fashionable in nineteenth-century Britain. This book draws together a wide selection of beautiful pieces, originating from across the continent - from Iceland in the north to Cyprus off the shores of Asia - to demonstrate the wonderful variety of this jewellery. Spectacular examples include gilded Norwegian wedding crowns and extravagant golden crosses of Normandy, ornate earrings of Spain and Italy, and imposing filigree clasps from the Balkans. The book illustrates how the jewellery was originally worn with traditional dress, and explores its popularity in the nineteenth century."--

La Bijouterie Française au XIXe Siècle by Henri Vever is an indispensable survey of the jewelry produced in Paris from the Empire to the Art Nouveau period. Since it was first published in three volumes nearly one hundred years ago, it has become the definitive source of information for the jewelry profession as well as for those who simply revel in the intricate beauty of fabulous jewels. Now, for the first time, the entire text is available in English in a single volume. Vever, himself a highly accomplished jeweler, compiled a study that charts the histories of both the humblest and the most famous of his colleagues, including Bapst, Boucheron, Falize, Fontenay, Pouquet, Froment-Meurice, Gaillard, Lalique, Mellerio, and Wièse. This vivid contemporary account is full of data gathered directly from the jewelers themselves or from their descendants. It contains fascinating anecdotes concerning Imperial and Royal commissions together with entertaining tales of workshop practices. In crediting the designers, chasers, engravers, and enamelers who collaborated with the famous jewelry houses, Vever acknowledged the talents of technicians who often worked anonymously. In identifying unrecorded craftsmen, he made his book a unique document. Political, economic, and industrial developments are discussed, as are their repercussions on society and fashion. With his intimate knowledge of techniques, Vever was able to analyze changes that were continually taking place in manufacturing processes. He also recorded the changing styles in jewelry and their sources of inspiration, ranging from the Antique to the Orient.

This beautifully illustrated book provides a comprehensive look at the jewelry of the 19th century, from the opulence of the First Empire to the Art Nouveau movement. It explores the cultural and social contexts that influenced design and production, and showcases some of the most stunning pieces from this era. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.