The Complete Book of Jewelry Making: A Full-Color Introduction To The Jeweler's Art

The Complete Book of Jewelry Making is a beautifully illustrated guide to jewelry-making techniques. In content it is similar to Jinks McGrath's The Encyclopedia of Jewelry-Making Techniques (LJ 11/1/95) with the addition of a very useful chapter on the properties of metals (gold and silver) and seven step-by-step projects for contemporary jewelry. When the techniques have been mastered, it is time for Jewellery: Design Sourcebook, a gallery of photographs of jewelry as art featuring the creations of over 75 contemporary artists. From a practical standpoint most of these are unwearable, but this is a rather fascinating look at the art jewelry of today. Both of these books are for larger or specialized arts and crafts collections.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

When jewelry is no longer defined by the precious metals or stones used, the new meaning enables amateurs and professionals alike to stretch their imaginations. And so does this first book by a Barcelona teacher and practitioner. He concentrates on ensuring that readers have a good understanding of the basics, from the ABCs of metallurgy to such complicated techniques as enameling and lacquering. In fact, included are a few resurrected methods; for instance, niello, an easily accomplished form of enameling, is often seen in eastern European silver pieces but rarely in the U.S. Most of the examples are contemporary, taken from European designers, and all blessed with great color photographs--as is the grand finale, the step-by-step how-tos of seven different pieces, detailed with words and in pictures, though none are really intended for rank beginners. An introduction for buyers as well as for budding artisans. Barbara Jacobs
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