New Books on the Shelf: Ogden, Galopim de Carvalho, Tierney, Tsinidis & more!
Four new books caught our eye this past week… courtesy of the FaceBook Group, the Gemological and Jewelry Book Club.
Gempedia, by Rui Galopim de Carvalho
GEMPEDIA is a comprehensive glossary for gemstones and gemology, with more than 7,300 entries, easy to read and comprehend, aimed at students, professionals, and all gem enthusiasts. Authored by Rui Galopim de Carvalho, a renowned international gemologist with a career spanning more than 30 years, this book is for those who want a comprehensive reference book highlighting the broad terminology used in the world of gemology and associated industries.
Tap here for more info.
And here for more info.
Art of Wax, by Elsa Tierney
Normally, we stick to gem related books, but the Art of Wax is a comprehensive guide featuring the artistry of wax in carving and modelling for jewellery-making and sculpture. So it is close enough to the gem materials for us to include it in our book list.
The book offers insights into a personal approach of working with hard and soft waxes and also features the sculptural fine art practices of her fellow wax working artists, Sarah Davis and Robert Worley.
Whether you’re a beginner, enthusiast, professional jeweller, or sculptor, this book caters to all skill levels. It combines traditional approaches with contemporary experimental methods, introduces different types of waxes and their properties, outlines essential tools, and provides step-by-step instructions for carving and modelling.
The book also explores the alchemical aspects of wax, emphasizing experimentation and offering practical advice on recycling. It also features a chapter on the Japanese wax technique ‘Mitsuro Hikime’ for creating organic forms in jewellery.
Art of Wax references artists who incorporate wax in their practice and includes historical examples from Egyptian signet rings, Benin Bronzes, and Antique Wax Moulages.
Jewelry Technology in the Ancient & Medieval World, by Jack Ogden
A Jewellery History Centenary
“This year is the hundredth anniversary of the publication of a book that is largely responsible for launching me into the study of early jewellery technology. This is the 1924 ‘Catalogue of Egyptian Antiquities Numbers 1-160: Gold and Silver Jewelry and Related Objects’ then in the collection of the New York Historical Society. It was written by Caroline Ransom Williams and John Heins. Caroline Ransom Williams has been described as the first professionally trained woman Egyptologist in America while John Heins was a gold- and silversmith in the Department of Fine Arts of Colombia University. This was a perfect partnership for an undertaking that broke new ground in the study of ancient jewellery technology. I was given a copy when I was about thirteen, and, of course, mention this in my new book. I treasure it still.
“Jewelry Technology in the Ancient & Medieval World is a detailed look at how gold jewellery was made between about 3000 BC and AD 1500. People (usually those who haven’t written books) ask me how long it took to write. The answer of course is that it is woven from observations, thoughts, research and input over the decades since I first looked at a broken Greek gold earring under magnification when in my early teens. I still learn something new every day, and hope I will always be open to rethinking ideas.” – JO
Summary
A lavishly illustrated, in-depth early history covering two thousand years of diamond jewelry and commerce, from the Indian mines to European merchants, courts, and workshops This richly illustrated history of diamonds illuminates myriad facets of the “king of gems,” including a cast of larger-than-life characters such as Alexander the Great, the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, and East India Company adventurers. It’s an in-depth study tracing the story of diamonds from their early mining and trade more than two thousand years ago to the 1700s, when Brazil displaced India as the world’s primary diamond supplier. Jack Ogden, a historian and gemologist specializing in ancient gems and jewelry, describes the early history of diamond jewelry, the development of diamond cutting, and how diamonds were assessed and valued. The book includes more than one hundred captivating illustrations, from historic diamond-set jewelry, some previously unpublished, to photomicrographs of individual gems, medieval manuscript illustrations, and Indian miniatures, as well as diagrams depicting historical methods of cutting and polishing diamonds.
428 pages and 750 images.
Mineral Collecting in Northern Greece (Volume 2), by Anastasios Tsinidis
Volume 2 is ready!
A collector’s guide to ruby, turquoise and alluvial gold localities in Northern Greece, with details of minerals, present day collecting conditions, maps, access to the localities, mining history, etc.
“I had 100 copies printed, and there will not be second edition. Pre-ordered copies are set aside, so there are about 30 copies still available.”
Contact Anastasios here on FaceBook for more info.
For even more books, read Le Gemmologue here!
And even more here at Flammarion Books!
