Floral Jewels: From The Worlds Leading Designers

Fromthevaultsoftheworld'smostesteemedjewelers,thislavishlyillustratedtreasuryfeaturesgem-ladenbloomsthatwillneverfadeaway.Throughouthistory,flowershavebeentheinspirationforjewelersandthepeoplewhoworetheircreations.GabrielleChanel'sfavoriteflowerwasthecamelliaandsincethe1920stheflowerhasbecomeincorporatedintoeveryaspectofthehouse'sdesigns.ChristianDiorfavoredthelilyofthevalleyandmadeitthecenterofhis1954collection.Thisgorgeousvolumehighlightshundredsofexamplesofthefinestfloraljewelryevermade.Dividedintofourseasons--andtheflowersthatbloominthem--thisbookexploresthehistoryofflowersinthefinejewelryworldandfeaturesdazzlingillustrations,originalsketchesandgouachepaintingsshowinghowthesebloomshavebeentranslatedintopiecesthatarebothpricelessandageless.ThejewelryeditorofBritishVogue,CarolWoolton,offersexpertinsightintofashionhistoryandtrends.SheexplorestheBelleÉpoque,stylesofthe1940s,andthere-interpretationsoficonicpieces.FromoriginalbejeweledbotanicalpiecesbymasterjewelerssuchasReneLaliqueandPeterCarlFaberge,tothesplendorofCartier'sorchidsandfancifulimaginativeflowersbycontemporarydesignerssuchasVictoiredeCastellane.JoelArthurRosenthal,acknowledgedastheworld'sgreatestjeweler,hascontributedaforewordandimagesforthebook.Thesefancifulornamentswillenticecollectorsanddreamersalike.