Free Downloads The Crown Jewels
An extraordinary, newly photographed celebration of this centuries-old collection: England's Crown Jewels. The Crown Jewels have often been called “the finest jewelry collection in the world.” This book provides a dazzling mix of art and photography with entirely new views plus spectacular details. Individual pieces, gems, and carefully selected groups of objects: the royal jewels can be seen here as never before. The priceless objects in the collection were created to be the physical embodiment of English sovereignty, and their story is that of the English monarchy itself―from the spoon used to pour out the holy oil of St. Thomas Becket at the coronation to the crown that King Edward VIII took into exile after he abdicated in 1936. In addition to the specially taken photographs of the jewels there are paintings and photographs of monarchs wearing the regalia, coronation ceremonies, and royal events during which items from the collection are used. The Crown Jewels are visited at the Tower of London by more than two million people each year. Based on original research and written by an expert in English court history, this is the definitive record of a most remarkable collection. 277 full-color and 19 black-and-white illustrations
Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: Thames & Hudson; First Edition edition (October 24, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0500515751
ISBN-13: 978-0500515754
Product Dimensions: 11 x 0.9 x 12.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 4.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #274,342 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #78 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Antiques & Collectibles > Jewelry
Luxurious, flawless research, well documented, beautifully photographed. A perfect companion if you have Leslie Field's classic "The Queen's Jewels". From the manufacture, symbolism and function in the ceremony, all aspects are covered. Beautiful artwork complement the jewelry photos. Don't pass this one up.
From the opening double page with its close up of the front of St Edwards Crown (Hardback Edition) to the final inventory of all the riches in the collection, this is the definitive collection of photographs. The camera takes us closer to the crowns and orbs than we could ever hope for in real life. In fact if you were ever this close you would probably be arrested and locked up in the Tower permanently. Well there are three versions of this book. Firstly the most expensive which features the hardback version with a Victorian pull out frieze. The main two are the stand alone hardback version verses the paperback edition. Be aware they are very different. I ordered the paperback and quickly cancelled it when I realized how much better the hardback version was.The paperback has only 179 pages as opposed to the 204 pages in the hardback. The paperback has 189 illustrations, 172 in colour, whilst hardback offers 296 illustrations, 277 of which are in colour. Sizing is different too. The hardback is so much larger at 32.5cm x 27.7cm, poor old paperback is only 27.2cm x 22.8cm.Of course the price reflects the sizing and paperback verses hardback, but well worth getting the better version, after all the Crown Jewels are not about to change. The writing of history and background is most interesting and in future I shall be able to spot the fakes with paste jewels, oh yes there are quite a few, all above board. To sum up, its worth the more expensive price for the amazing new photographs in the highest, clearest detail. Well done Anna Keay and her team, I doubt this book will ever be bettered.
I thought it would be helpful for you to see what's inside this book. So I put a bunch of Images above. This is a gorgeous book chock-full of gripping details about the subject matter and ridiculously close-up and detailed photography. [Ooops, rather than go crazy you'll have to tone it down a bit. deleted most customer-uploaded images from product pages in July 2013.]First and foremost, it is a coffee table book that you can peruse at your leisure. Any page you turn to will have glorious pictures, most covering the entire leaf with captions and descriptions. The cover photo is of the official Imperial Crown made for King George VI, QEII's father, in 1937. It was sized down to fit her and is in current use. (See her coronation picture in Images.)Second, it is a history of the Crown. Via examining the ancient inherited riches, it is a natural flow to explain the royalty in England, the world's premier monarchy. I have focused on the crowns in the Images but the other regalia including, orbs, scepters, robes, gifts, the extensive jewel collection and portraits help tell the entire story. The following appears in the book:"The story of the royal family in the 18th century is a tale of fathers and sons. With chilling consistency, each generation loathed the next: George I was on lamentable terms with his son George II; George II detested his son, Frederick Prince of Wales, while Frederick's son George III, considered his heir, George IV, to be an imbecile."My husband is from England and, coincidentally, soon after giving me this book for Christmas, my husband's sister mailed him a letter in the envelope shown above. With the recent issuance of the stamp which comprises the cover of this book, and with the Olympics, the royal wedding and Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee approaching, there is renewed interest in the glory of England. As a student of Tudor times and having a love of all that is British, I applaud this.
I've visited the Jewel Tower more than several times and this book told me more than I learned on several lengthy guided tours.If you enjoy History AND jewelry, this book is for you. The book itself arrived wrapped like a Crown Jewel with purple and scarlet velvet ribbon !The photography is spectacular. The text is inclusive without being too scholarly.I can't afford a trip to London this year, but this book is a good substitute.
Beautiful crowns, sceptres, and orbs---absolutely! There's lots more in this wonderful book, though. I actually most enjoyed the chapter devoted to "Splendours of the Table," where plates, cups, and salt-cellars are amazing works of golden art. All the photos in this book are beautifully rendered, with extreme close ups on many pieces to showcase their detail.The historical details in each section are great as well: shocking to realize how often these things have been pawned, sold, or even melted down. A summary index in the back shows thumbnail photos with information for each, very handy resource. This won't be the only book I buy on the Crown Jewels!
This magnificent volume on the "crown jewels", is the best ever produced, due to the stunning, dramatic photos, published on heavy, glossy paper. The historical information was not wholly relevant to the subject, as the author writes from a cultural anthropological standpoint, overall her efforts were to be applauded, in this unique book on the glittering, jaw dropping gems of the "royals". I have seen them, and the "Imperial State Crown" and "Royal Scepter" with the Star of Africa I and II, being simply awe inspiring. The Hope Diamond was a visual treat, but when viewing the Cullinan Diamonds, set in their regal housing, it looks like merely impressive. Though blue diamonds are the rarest in the world. Buy the book, own it for life and enjoy the other great photos of the majestic Koh-I-Noor and the Stewart Sapphire.
The Crown Jewels Dali-Jewels: The Collection of the Gala-Salvador Dali The Jewels of Queen Elizabeth II: Her Personal Collection Jewels of the Tsars: The Romanovs and Imperial Russia If These Jewels Could Talk: The Legends Behind Celebrity Gems American Luxury: Jewels from the House of Tiffany Bevels and Jewels Stained Glass Pattern Book: 83 Designs for Workable Projects (Dover Stained Glass Instruction) Family Jewels: A Guide to Male Genital Play and Torment Otelo, El Moro de Venecia/ Othello, The Moore of Venice (Joyas Del Teatro/ Theater Jewels) (Spanish Edition) Company, Crown and Colony: The Hudson's Bay Company and Territorial Endeavour in Western Canada The Perplexing Theft of the Jewel in the Crown (Baby Ganesh Agency Investigation) The Crown Affair (Nursery-Rhyme Mysteries) Who Owns the Crown Lands of Hawai'i? The Formation of a Colonial Society: Belize, From Conquest to Crown Colony (Johns Hopkins Studies in Atlantic History and Culture) The Rise and Fall of The Roman Empire: The Clashes of Kings and Emperors Claiming The Crown Warlord's Wager: Book Two in the Crown of Blood Series The Winter Crown: A Novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine The Ransomed Crown (The Saga of Roland Inness Book 4) Dragon's Fire: Book Three In The Crown Of Blood Series The Gift (Crown's Spies Book 3)
