FireFly

Table of Contents

List of Contributors

Preface
Introduction

1 The Middle East: 5000-2000 BC
2 The Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean and North of the Alps: 2000-1400 BC
3 Egypt: 1500-900 BC
4 Europe and Western Asia, 1400-600 BC
5 Phoenician, Greek, Etruscan and Persian Lands: 850-325 BC
6 China, Celtic Europe, Mexico and Peru: 600 BC-AD 600
7 The Mediterranean, Parthia, India, Egypt, Roman Britain and Byzantium: 325 BC-AD 600
8 Europe, China, Korea and Japan: AD 300-1000
9 Mayan Central America: AD 600-1000
10 Central and South America: AD 500-1500
11 Europe, Islam, China, Korea and Java: AD 1000-1500
12 Europe: AD 1500-1700
13 China, India, Tibet and Mongolia: AD 1500-1850
14 West Africa: AD 1500-1800
15 Europe: AD 1700-1950
16 Amulets
17 Cameos in Jewellery
18 Functional Finger-rings

Select Glossary
References for the illustrations
Bibliography
Further reading
Index

Preface

The aim of this book is to bring together jewellery from all the major phases of man's history. The selection, made entirely from the collections of the British Museum, ranges in date from about 5000 BC to the middle of the twentieth century. The scope extends beyond Europe and the ancient cultures of Western Asia to India, Tibet and the Far East and includes certain areas of Africa and America. Owing to the accident of survival and archaeological rediscovery and of opportunity for acquisition, some areas and periods are necessarily more richly represented than others.

Jewellery for personal adornment is the main theme, but, in addition, amuletic (protective) jewellery -- in so far as it can be specifically recognised -- is treated separately. The use of cameos in jewellery and the role of finger-rings are two further aspects singled out for individual consideration, partly because both have histories peculiar to themselves.

I am deeply grateful to my colleagues in the eight Departments who have given so generously and unsparingly of their time and expertise and who have written on the items from the collections in their care.

I would also like to express my appreciation of the work of David Gowers of the Photographic Service, who has photographed all the jewellery specially for this book, using great patience and imagination to capture the intricate and elusive detail of these tiny objects. The great wealth of the Museum's collections was first revealed in the exhibition Jewellery Through 7000 Years of 1976 and its accompanying catalogue. My thanks now go to Celia Clear of British Museum Publications for suggesting that this material might be the basis of a new survey and to Jenny Chattington for all her invaluable work in the production of this book.

HUGH TAIT
May 1986

Note on the present edition
A few revisions have been made in the sections on Celtic Europe, Roman Britain, cameos and finger rings to take account of new research and discoveries. The section on Europe AD 1700-1950 has been completely rewritten with new illustrations and includes numerous acquisitions made by the British Museum since 1990. Sadly, Hugh Tait died in 2005.

 

[Review of previous edition:] A mind-boggling feat, this survey of 7000 years of glittering memorabilia of lost empires, royal egos, superstition and sentiment.
-   New York Times Book Review  

Historical, inspiring and beautiful, my copy is full of post-it notes and sketches tucked between the pages, taking up permanent residence on my nightstand.
- Barb Switzer  Simply Beads  2009 02

This is an important book for all jewelers -- one that many would see as a concise history of the evolution of jewelry..... It is the successor to the original catalogue for the 1976 British Museum exhibition "Jewellery Through 7000 Years," which was primarily illustrated in black and white. In this revised version, the pieces have been superbly photographed and printed in color. (In fact, many illustrations look better than the actual objects despite the fact that the museum cases are well lit.) The book designers have created an attractive layout, and the figure captions are informative.... Some revisions have been made in this version to account for new research discoveries, and the section on Europe from 1700 to 1950 has been completely rewritten with new illustrations that include the museum's recent acquisitions.... The book weighs nearly three pounds (1.36 kg), which is substantial but still light enough to carry on a visit to the museum, and is an incredibly good value. Jewelers and gemologists will find it an interesting read and an attractive reference volume for their shelves.
- Alan Jobbins, Caterham, United Kingdom  Gems and Gemology  2009 03