The most comprehensive and beautifully illustrated history of jewelry.
The previous edition of this exhaustive survey was published to critical acclaim by the British Museum Press.
Since its publication, the museum has expanded its collection with major acquisitions of pieces from Europe and Asia.
The new edition includes a complete revision of the section on Europe after 1700, plus revisions to the sections on Celtic Europe, Roman Britain, cameos, and finger rings.
The book explores the varied styles, techniques, and materials used to make jewelry in many civilizations throughout the world and across the millennia.
Egyptian necklaces, Celtic torcs, South American gold masks, Renaissance pendants, and Art Nouveau buckles are examples of the range of masterpieces described and illustrated with 400 superb photographs.
7000 Years of Jewelry takes readers on an impressive tour that includes, among other times and places:
- The Middle East: 5000-2000 BC
- Egypt: 1500-900 BC
- Phoenician, Greek, Etruscan, and Persian Lands: 850 BC – 325 AD
- China, Celtic Europe, Mexico, and Peru: 600 BC-AD 600
- The Mediterranean, India, Egypt, Roman Britain, and Byzantium: 325 BC – 600 AD
- Europe, China, Korea, and Japan: 300-1000 AD
- Mayan Central America: 600-1000 AD
- Central and South America: 500-1500 AD
- Europe, Islam, China, Korea, and Java: 1000-1500 AD
- China, India, Tibet, and Mongolia: 1500-1850 AD
- West Africa: 1500-1800 AD
- Europe: 1500-1950 AD
