You might be able to spot the differences between an Art Nouveau and an Art Deco piece at first glance, but do you know why the designers behind these creations used specific materials, or how their style fit into a wider movement? An engrossing new course by Christie’s Education puts jewelry in its historical, economic and societal context, showing that jewels are more than just pretty, glitzy things to wear.
Whether you’re a jewelry novice or are looking to deepen your current knowledge about antique and estate pieces, the six-part “History of Jewellery Design: 1880 to Now” course is an informative online exploration of the key movements in jewelry history from the Belle Époque onward.
Making the program especially enjoyable is its narrator, leading jewelry historian Vanessa Cron — an outstanding storyteller whose presentations are clear, well-written, insightful and witty. Cron could make a topic as obscure as the history of the clasp riveting, so imagine the effect when her material is the rich history between the end of the 19th century and the present day.
Each unit is well-structured, with an in-depth overview covering the materials, styles, techniques, game-changing designers and iconic creations of each era. The narrative is illustrated with gorgeous visuals and pertinent historic sources. In addition, episodes feature short, stylish animations to explain how the jewelry was intimately linked to the fashions of its period. You’ll also meet famous jewelry collectors and muses such as the formidable Sarah Bernhardt, Josephine Baker and Maria Felix. Interviews with historic Parisian houses, including Boucheron, Van Cleef & Arpels, Chaumet and Mellerio, close the episodes. A quiz at the end of each session helps assess your acquisition of knowledge.
Cron narrates the first five weeks, which cover the Belle Époque, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Retro and Modern periods.
The final session, covering contemporary works, puts the spotlight on three living high-jewelry designers: Wallace Chan and Viren Bhagat share their creative journeys and emblematic styles, while the ever-elusive JAR — aka Joel Arthur Rosenthal — is represented in absentia by Francois Curiel, Christie’s chairman for Europe and Asia and another storyteller extraordinaire.
With “History of Jewellery Design: 1880 to Now,” Christie’s Education has created an ideal online offering for lovers and collectors of jewels. Once you complete it, you’ll never look at an intricate floral enamel brooch or a geometric diamond-and-onyx bracelet the same way again.
christies.edu
Images: Christie’s Education, Christie’sArticle from the Rapaport Magazine - May 2020. To subscribe click here.