Divine Jewels

In an unprecedented literary and artistic collaboration, the world's foremost collector of historical jewels, Kazumi Arikawa, unveils his exceptional collection in Divine Jewels : The Pursuit of Beauty. This exquisite volume is coauthored with Diana Scarisbrick, a leading scholar of jewelry history, offering readers an unparalleled journey through ten thematic chapters, spanning the Hellenistic period to the 1940s. Divine Jewels presents a breathtaking array of works, from intricately carved cameos and intaglios of antiquity through the nineteenth century to sublime, nature-inspired pieces reflecting the delicate aesthetics of Japanism, as well as one of the world's premier collections of historical tiaras. Each chapter, meticulously curated and researched, offers a dialogue between the scholarly perspective of the jewelry historian and the personal insights and knowledge of the collector. This unique interplay explores the subject in a multifaceted light, celebrating jewelry history, craftsmanship, prestigious provenance, precious gemstones, and the cultural significance of jewelry. The collector's personal narratives provide a rare glimpse into the mind of someone who has not only collected, but also lived and breathed the very essence of these masterpieces. Beautifully illustrated and produced, Divine Jewels is more than a reference book ; it is a testament to the transcendent power of jewelry and the enduring legacy of a collector who has dedicated his life to preserving the pinnacle of artistic achievement in the jewelry arts.