Beyond Adornment

Why dopeople wear jewelry? What meaning does it hold for the wearer? And what doesthe wearer hope it will convey to those they encounter-or to someone viewingtheir image decades, even centuries, later? Artistic renderings of the human figure-in portraiture, sculpture, andother media-in a range of allegorical, historical, and religious images oftenshowcase jewelry. The ornaments depicted in such designs offer an abundanceof information that not only heightens our understanding of the subject butalso provides insights into the imagination of the artist. Jewelry enhancesour 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 figureswearing sumptuous personal adornments that define who they are within thespecific milieus in which they lived, this richly illustrated and accessiblevolume represents a novel, interdisciplinary approach to the ways in whichjewelry can be studied and understood.Beyond Adornment takes the reader on a captivating journeythrough time and across cultures worldwide, reflecting on the fundamental humandesire to wear jewelry. A wide array of fascinating jewels from the ordinary tothe extraordinary give insight into the personal lives and public faces ofindividual wearers, revealing how jewelry has accompanied us from the cradle tothe grave. A stunning selection of sculptures and portraits bring the subjectto life, showing how jewelry is more than simply adornment.-BeatrizChadour-Sampson, jewelry historian, author, curator and lecturer