"Collecting antique jewelry can bring you endless hours of enjoyment, for it not only satisfies a love of days gone by but also brings a yearning to learn more about other times and places. The collector shows a desire to be unique in setting, rather than following, fashion trends."
Roseann Ettinger's book reads like a treasure hunt. In six chapters, she takes the reader on a tour of antique jewelry from the 1840s to the 1940s, covering the Victorian era through Art Nouveau, Transitional, and Art Deco. Fascinating details on various pieces, their origins, and their makers make the jewelry come alive. Beautifully arranged full-color photographs of cameos, hair combs, hat pins, necklaces, buckles, chokers, lockets, and many other pieces handsomely complement the text. Popular Jewelry aids the reader in identifying period jewelry and the materials used in their manufacture. It also provides invaluable information for the novice collector who cannot always tell a genuine antique from a copy. The effects of history, culture, and materials on jewelry, and the effects of jewelry on culture, are intricately interwoven. An updated price guide and index are included.