Vivienne Becker – författare

Michelle Ong established Carnet, her Hong Kong-based boutique jewelry house, over twenty-five years ago, and her unique one-off creations draw on Chinese motifs and her love of European culture and craftsmanship. Her multi-hued jewels crystallize natural forms with invisible mastery. The hovering translucency of dragonfly wings, the succulence of ripe fruits, the whisper-light touch of a feather, the seductive fragility of black lace, meticulously hand-wrought from silver, the velvet petals of an anemone, a voluptuously curled seashell, the evanescence of a floating cloud evoked in a scroll of diamonds: each jewel is a miniature sculptural work of art. Jade, China’s imperial gemstone, is reworked into an Art Deco-style cocktail ring. Her Chinese dragon, a fiercely benign creature, writhes in blackened gold and pavé-set emeralds, breathing a stream of fiery rubies. Ong’s work is now acknowledged among the greatest names in high jewelry, renowned for her sublime designs, idiosyncratic colour combinations and deft craftsmanship. This volume will be required reading by serious collectors and aficionados, and a source of deep delight for all those seeking inspiration from the finest of contemporary jewelry creators.

A unique figure in the world of contemporary art, Daniel Brush is in equal measure artist and craftsman. Over the course of forty years, Brush has created an unparalleled body of work, whose scope ranges from large-scale abstract drawings to sculptures in steel, aluminum, and gold. Collected here are more than 150 objects that bring to the fore Brush s astonishing work with jewels. Far from the products of the world of commercial jewelry, these are jewel-encrusted objects of virtue and fantasy that reflect not just the artist s rigorous personal aesthetic and mastery of technique, but his lifelong fascinations with philosophy and Asian thought, and his exhaustive knowledge of the history of precious stones. With photography made of the objects in situ inside Brush s studio in New York City, this book presents not only a catalog of his jewel work to date, but also an ethereal portrait of the artist himself. Housed in a slipcase, with photographs by Takaaki Matsumoto and an illuminating text by Vivienne Becker, this is an intimate study of the work of a master artist and a beautiful object in itself.

This gorgeous book is a delight for all who are interested in fine craftsmanship, beautiful jewelry, and the role of fashion in an ever-changing world. Costume jewelry is an intimate reflection of its age. Shaped by the attitudes and fashion of the women who wear it, this jewelry reveals their temperaments, their fantasies, and the spirit of their times. This lushly illustrated book is a comprehensive retrospective of commercial costume jewelry, from 18th century Georgian, Neo Classic, and Romantic pieces to 20th century Edwardian, Art Deco, Cocktail, and modern "Glam Rock" jewelry. It discusses in great depth the roots of jewelry movements, the cultural trends that influenced jewelry designers-industrialism, wartime, the growth of Hollywood, technological breakthroughs, and the women's movement-and the effects jewelry had on women's fashions.

The exquisite Nobel jeweller Schullin from Vienna is globally renowned for its unique fine art jewellery pieces crafted in-house. Among its clients and admirers are famous personalities such as Elton John, Christine Kaufmann, and Barbra Streisand.Now, author Vivienne Becker has created the first comprehensive coffee table book on the outstanding work of Herbert Schullin, delivering a long-overdue homage to the astonishing work of the jewellery designer who has been at the avant-garde of his high-calibre craft for almost half a century. She not only showcases the most significant pieces of jewellery but also takes her readers behind the scenes, revealing the creative process of the Schullin jewellery workshop.Schullin is one of the foremost jewellers in Europe, with his reputation preceding him. Daring geometric shapes define Schullin's style and regularly leave the international jewellery scene in awe. Schullin's works captivate with their clarity and brilliance in form, material, and colour. Often, a precious gemstone forms the basis of each piece, becoming the central element of the creation.The carefully curated coffee table book Schullin - Tradition Reinvented showcases the most beautiful, creative, and sought-after pieces from his always handcrafted collections, undoubtedly among the finest that goldsmithing has to offer. Jewellery enthusiasts and admirers of the Viennese traditional jeweller will be enchanted by this exquisite homage to the Austrian jewellery creator, Schullin.