Beyond Adornment : Jewelry and Identity in Art

Why do people wear jewelry? What meaning does it hold for the wearer? And what does the wearer hope it will convey to those they encounter-or to someone viewing their image decades, even centuries, later? Artistic renderings of the human figure-in portraiture, sculpture, and other media-in a range of allegorical, historical, and religious images often showcase jewelry. The ornaments depicted in such designs offer an abundance of information that not only heightens our understanding of the subject but also provides insights into the imagination of the artist. Jewelry enhances our enjoyment of works of art because it is visually compelling, sensuous, and laden with an array of associations and symbolic meanings. Bringing together spectacular and significant art objects depicting figures wearing sumptuous personal adornments that define who they are within the specific milieus in which they lived, this richly illustrated and accessible volume represents a novel, interdisciplinary approach to the ways in which jewelry can be studied and understood. Beyond Adornment takes the reader on a captivating journey through time and across cultures worldwide, reflecting on the fundamental human desire to wear jewelry. A wide array of fascinating jewels from the ordinary to the extraordinary give insight into the personal lives and public faces of individual wearers, revealing how jewelry has accompanied us from the cradle to the grave. A stunning selection of sculptures and portraits bring the subject to life, showing how jewelry is more than simply adornment.-Beatriz Chadour-Sampson, jewelry historian, author, curator and lecturer