Age of Grandeur

"When a new tome by David Bennett and Daniela Mascetti arrives for me to review, I don’t wait. I immediately open it and am completely drawn in by the breadth and depth of their knowledge and the awe-inspiring jewelry featured within their works. Such is the case with their new book ..." — NouvelleBox "... The book is intellectually rich yet warm in its tone, and visually sumptuous, offering a definitive perspective on the Classical, Romantic, and early modern aesthetics that shaped the era. " — The Jewellery Editor  "... these pages promise to inspire knowledgeable collectors while taking their expertise to the next level." — Gem and Jewel  "Nineteenth-century jewelry buffs can learn all they ever wanted about the crafts, themes, makers and clients central to the period." — Wall Street Journal From the authors of Understanding Jewellery, considered to be one of the most important and frequently referenced books on jewellery ever produced, Age of Grandeur focuses solely on the 19th century, bringing with it over 250 new colour photographs of jewellery from this most celebrated era. Taking the reader through the history of jewellery over the decades, we learn how and why particular styles came about and then changed. From Napoleonic classicism and Victorian sentimental and memorial jewellery, through the Romantic era and its penchant for naturalism, the Gothic style and recreation of the Renaissance and, finally, the unique designs of the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau periods, this comprehensive study enlightens and fascinates. With stunning photographs accompanying us on our journey through the decades, creating a rich visual history that brings the text to life, this book remains the essential bible on 19th-century jewellery.