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“If all the ethnic jewelry exhibitions of the last 20 years were assembled together, one would have an approximation of the Ghysels Collection. . . . This must be in the library of anyone serious about jewelry.”—Ornament “A magnificent array . . . will provide inspiration for designers and pleasures for students of ethnic cultures.” —Library Journal

This book documents—in stunning color photographs—one of the premier collections of ethnic jewelry in the world. Among the 400 illustrations are pieces from every corner of the globe—and the range of materials used, forms, and craft techniques is truly astonishing.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #550878 in Books
• Published on: 1994-09-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

From Library Journal
Over 30 years in the making, the Ghysels Collection of ethnic jewelry here yields a magnificent array of over 400 pieces of jewelry, ranging from the elaborate extravagance of Central Asian headdresses to the stark simplicity of Solomon Islands chest pendants. Art historian Borel's gracefully written essay describes the universality of the desire to ornament the body, as seen in the cultures of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. Captions describing the provenance and use of each piece accompany the luminous photographs. The jewelry pieces are not pictured as actually worn but are appreciated as objects of art. This beautifully executed volume will provide inspiration for designers and pleasures for students of ethnic cultures. Recommended for large decorative arts collections.
Therese Duzinkiewicz Baker, Western Kentucky Univ. Libs., Bowling Green
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
It is through wonderfully composed color photographs, enhanced by text, that the body decorations of cultures from around the world come to life here. Curator-scholar Borel concentrates on the materials, the cultural imagery, and the meaning of jewelry worn by peoples in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. The impressions are indelible: Brazilian men tossing around a certain colorful, feathered akangitat, or headdress, during special ceremonies, Sudanese women with spiked silver bracelets for self-protection, and amulet cases with carnelian, worn at the waist to ease the pain of childbirth. Barbara Jacobs

About the Author
FRANCE BOREL is director of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Art Visuel de la Cambre in Brussels. JOHN BIGELOW TAYLOR is one of the world’s foremost photographers of art. He is the photographer of Abrams’ The Currency of Fame and The Cycladic Spirit, among other books.

Customer Reviews

Splendor is the appropriate word
This is, indeed, a very beautifully photographed book. The represented pieces are all exquisite.

Though, it's true there could have been more background information provided, giving the book a rating of one star, as the previous reviewer did, is grossly unjust - an act of spite rather than of informed criticism. Clearly, the book was never meant to be a exhaustive examination of all the ethnological aspects of each piece (though there is ample annotation); such a book would have run to 2000 pages rather than 250! So the Splendor of Ethnic Jewelry is not a doctoral thesis but rather a stroll thru a museum; in this case, the Ghysels Collection. A coffee-table book if you want, but beautiful none the less and of the highest standard.

If you have previously had no interest in ethnic jewelry per se, this book will open your eyes to the extraordinary artistry of these ornaments created by the world's non-industrial peoples. Each object in itself says much more than an accompanying treatise ever could, and I cannot imagine anyone coming away from this book without a desire to learn more.

A second copy purchased for a friend who deals in ethnic jewelry was very much appreciated.

The most beautiful ethnic jewelry book I have seen
This is a HUGE book filled with georgeous close-ups of really inspirational jewelry. A favorite of mine!

The Splendor of Ethnic Jewelry
The photographs by John Bigelow Taylor are wonderful, but this book has a paucity of explanatory text. I don't just like to look at pretty pictures. I want to know about the jewelry. Who made it? How was it made? Who wears it? How is it worn? Why was it worn? What is the human history behind it? I particularly want to know all this about ethnic jewelry. You won't get it here.

No people are shown wearing the jewelry, so the book is sterile. There is no cultural context. It's a lot to pay for no additional knowledge about ethnic jewelry.