Gemological Flora and Fauna

The parrot pendant, which is richly decorated with gold, diamonds, rubies and pearls, was crafted in the second half of the 16th century in southern Germany, possibly in Augsburg.   The colorful bird is surrounded by a white hare, a snail and a bee. The pendant was likely a wedding gift, as parrots are known […]

Girl with a Pearl Earring

Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer possesses an uncanny ability of capturing the moments in between moments from scenes of ordinary life. Best known as “genre” painting, his works of art recorded fleeting daily tasks, most notably in works such as Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window (c. 1657) and The Music Lesson (c. 1665). […]

Max Ernst, the Würth Collection

Max Ernst The Würth Collection 18 July 2020 through 17 January 2021 Parts of Max Ernst’s biographical notes are fictitious, and he always remained ironically detached from his own works and techniques. His pictures feature figurative elements as well as imaginary forms, and his works have been created from mixed media. Max Ernst was a […]

Worldwide History of Beads

First published in 1987 as “The History of Beads,” Lois Sherr Dubin’s “Worldwide History of Beads: Ancient, Ethnic, Contemporary” has become a collectible tome rife with references for bead lovers, collectors and scholars. In the newer edition of the book, Dubin has expounded on the latest archaeological discoveries, with a new chapter on contemporary adornment […]

Rise of Constantine the Great

A melting pot of jewelry influences, originating with Constantine the Great and the Eastern Roman Empire in Byzantium to Northern Europe, Southern Europe, the Black Sea, Pannonia and south of the Alps. No matter the location, jewelry has often been a subject of luxurious tastes and aristocracy, imperial courts and honorary gifts of merit, as […]