Simply Brilliant: Artist-Jewelers of the 1960s and 1970s

by Cynthia Amnéus, Adam MacPhàrlain, Ruth Peltason, Rosemary Ransome Wallis, Amanda Triossi

Hardback

256 Pages

9 1/2 x 10 1/2 in

210 color illustrations

Simply Brilliant: Artist-Jewelers of the 1960s and 1970s presents over 100 examples by leading makers and designers of jewelry in the 1960s and ‘70s. Drawn from the stellar collection of Cincinnatian Kimberly Klosterman, these individual makers thought of themselves as artists first, jewelers second. This magnificent new volume, containing original research, is full of photography of stunning one of a kind pieces which reflect the inventive and ground-breaking attitudes of the era. The catalog explores the history of this jewelry and puts it in context with essays that speak to the 1961 Goldsmiths’ Hall exhibition in London, the early Italian makers, major jewelry houses and their contributions, and the jewelry of this era and its relationship to fashion. Integrating biographies of each of the makers with images of their work and maker’s marks, this volume illustrates jewelry by Andrew Grima, John Donald, Arthur King, Elsa Peretti, and many others, as well as work by major jewelry houses such as Cartier, Bulgari, and Van Cleef & Arpels. Bringing a new direction to fine jewelry design, these artists created unique pieces using non-traditional materials and creating unusual forms that were primarily drawn from nature.