gems, crown jewels, Europe, Great Britain, Germany, France, glyptic

This sumptuously illustrated book surveys 800 years of European monarchies through the jewels that symbolized their wealth, power, and prestige—adornments that hung from their necks, were sewn into their garments, and dripped from their fingers, often into the waiting hands of favored courtiers. Beginning with the gem-encrusted gold crowns of medieval kings and concluding with the glittering diamond tiaras of Belle Époque princesses, Royal Jewels showcases the exquisite range of gems worn by Europe’s legendary rulers. These dazzling artifacts are the remnants of a bygone age when jewels served as strategic tools in the politics of court favor and international diplomacy—such as Queen Elizabeth I’s gift of the famed “Drake” miniature to Sir Francis Drake or Catherine the Great’s presentation of a trove of emeralds, now a magnificent necklace, to the English ambassador. Empress Josephine, wife of Napoleon, understood the symbolic power of such adornments, proudly wearing the rough-hewn gold and sapphire talisman once buried with Charlemagne to link Napoleon to the legacy of the legendary emperor. Richly illustrated with photographs of the jewels themselves, as well as period paintings and vintage portraits of bejeweled royals and their families, Royal Jewels is the first book to assemble this unparalleled collection—remarkable both for its craftsmanship and for its relevance to the cultural and social history of Europe and the Western world. It is a treasure for anyone passionate about jewelry, fashion, or history.