Sapphire

Sapphire is the third and final instalment in Thames & Hudson''s showstopping series on coloured gemstones, created by Violette Editions. A feast for all the senses, the book features page after page of exquisite sapphire jewels and artefacts from the 4th century BC to the present day, interspersed with text exploring the history of this beautiful gemstone and its enduring popularity with style icons, past and present. Joanna Hardy, the highly regarded jewelry and gemstone expert, reviews the sapphire''s history with captivating stories told in a succinct exhilarating style. She takes the reader on a journey from early trade along the Silk Route and the creation of medieval talismans, to the jewelry collections of the great royal houses of Europe and the finest designers at work today. Along the way, she showcases spectacular jewels worn by many notable figures, including Elizabeth Taylor, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duchess of Windsor, as well as pieces by such iconic jewelry houses as Cartier, Bulgari, Van Cleef & Arpels, Chaumet and Tiffany. A selection of work by 21st-century jewelry designers such as Shaun Leane, Hemmerle, Lauren Adriana, Bina Goenka and Mish is featured. There is also an exclusive insight into six major private collections, including previously unpublished pieces. With its rich, royal-blue silk cover and gold-foil blocking, Sapphire is a beautiful addition to any gem-lover''s library.

Auteur

Joanna Hardy is an independent gemologist and jewelry specialist, formerly of Debeers and Sothebys. She lectures widely and writes for many international journals, and also features on the popular BBC programme Antiques Roadshow.

Texte du rabat

The definitive book on this beautiful gemstone, brimming with illuminating insights and glorious photographs of the finest sapphire jewels in history

Contenu
Introduction

1. Early Trade
2. Medicine and Magic
3. Profiles and Portraits
4. Treasure
5. At Court
6. The Jewel Box of the Indian Ocean
7. Hanoverian Blue
8. New Horizons
9. Star Sapphires
10. Jewels of Impact
11. High Society
12. The Art of Collecting
13. Sapphire Discoveries
14. Showstoppers
15. 21st Century
16. The Gemological World of Sapphires