This sumptuously illustrated book surveys the exquisite range of costume jewelry produced by haute couture fashion houses, an often neglected subject.

'Costume Jewelry for Haute Couture' is for anyone with an interest in this most creative and accessible decorative art.

It showcases the extraordinary diversity and exceptional craftsmanship of the jewelry in hundreds of beautifully reproduced pieces from such fashion houses as Chanel, Courrèges, Yves St Laurent and Lanvin.

The story begins in antiquity, but the main focus is on costume jewelry’s heyday, which ran from the 1920s to the 1990s. The main stages in its development are placed in historical, social and cultural contexts, and in terms of their format and styles.The book also focuses on jewelry making and the partnerships between great couturiers, costume jewelers and craftsmen.

The spectacular photographs include hundreds specially taken for this volume, as well as many original photographs of the jewelry being worn.