From Library Journal

Sumptuously photographed ethnic pieces from the collections of the Barbier-Mueller Museum in Geneva shine brightly as the stars in this magnificent cavalcade of representative and decorative jewelry from various civilizations and kingdoms of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Serving as an introduction to the photographic section, the image-provoking text-esoteric at times because of its literary quotations-focuses on various types of adornment for skin, hair, clothing, and weaponry created from gold, silver, precious and semiprecious gems, minerals, shells, teeth, and hair. Brief captions are sprinkled throughout the photographs, with fuller descriptions located in the catalog section at the end. Though primarily a coffee-table book, this may be useful for designers, artisans, and anyone interested in anthropology, ethnology, primitive art, or exotic jewelry. Recommended for both lay readers and specialists.Stephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State U (more…)