This book is not only a good introduction to the work of a number of important contemporary jewelers, but also attempts to develop a kind of history of contemporary jewelry that is still relatively rare. In detailing a face-off between the United States and Europe (Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy) Turner does a credible job of demonstrating what contemporary jewelry from different places and traditions has in common, while also respecting differences and cultural politics (American isolationism versus European provincialism). Color sections and black-and-white illustrations mean there is a lot to look at and Turner’s text is thoughtful and surprisingly detailed, given the relatively small scale of the book.
