Jewellery in Context

Jewellery in Context
is the doctoral dissertation, edited by Theo Smeets in its first English translation, by the Dutch art historian and design critic Marjan Unger (1946-2018). In this work she initially endeavours to formulate a general definition of jewelery. Yet above all she also analyzes to what extent jewelery is associated, across the globe, with different, sometimes contrary issues: all human fears, but also desires, have, in a sense, materialized as objects of adornment, she postulates. This comprehensive approach aimed not least at developing a solid theoretical framework to aid the study of jewelery. Thus the text can already be seen as an outright standard reference work, indispensable for all students of jewelery. However, experts, too, will discover new perspectives on the phenomenon of jewelery.

Contents:
Foreword – Theorems; 1. Introduction; 2. Definitions and classifications; 3. Art history as foundation for the study of jewellery; 4. Man as measure; 5. Angles from other disciplines; 6. Symbolism in jewellery; 7. Evaluation; 8. Conclusion.