This second volume of a
multi- volume series on the Ghysels collection- probably the most
comprehensive and beautiful collection of ethnic jewelry in the
world- presents nearly 800 extraordinary objects, most of which
have never been shown to the public before, coming from Africa,
Asia and America.
Since time immemorial, earrings have been a means of seduction for
women. Craftsmen the world over have set their imaginations to
work, using every available material. Firstly they used flowers and
grass, feathers and horns, wood, shells, and ivory. Mines and
alluvional deposits offered stones and metals. Bold travellers and
adventurous sailors set off in search of exotic goods.
Their symbolism is also rich and complex: for the Kikuyu tribe in
Kenya, a person's prestige is measured by the number of ear
ornaments, as long as their lobes can stand without tearing.
Statues of Buddha show him with long ears. In the archipelagos of
Indonesia, the suitor's family offers earrings to seal an alliance.
Leather earrings with pearls are a sign of a married woman's status
for Masai. In the Philippines and among the Naga headhunters, the
men's hunting exploits and prowess as warriors are embodied in the
jewellery they wear on their ears.
The first book of the series A World of Rings presents over 1,000
rings from three continents. Round, square, oval, hexagonal or
simply a sculpture in space, since ancient times the ring has lent
itself to the boundless imagination of its creators in a
fascinating variety of ways.
|
内容加载中，请稍后...
商品评论（0条）