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500 Series
500 Bracelets: An Inspiring Collection of Extraordinary Designs
Never before has such a diverse collection of fine contemporary bracelets been assembled, showcasing hundreds of renowned international jewelers. Materials range from the most precious metals and gems to paper and plastic, and the varied techniques include forging, casting, weaving, and and surface embellishments. Among the featured creators: Abrasha, who contributes a Royal Pachinko Ball Bracelet; Sharon Portelance, who called her work Wrist Corsage: Ever Present; and Felieke Van Der Leest's amusingly named Hare O'Harix and His 6 Carrots. Whether you're an expert jeweler, a collector, a student, or simply someone who loves beautiful objects, these one-of-kind pieces will astound you.
408 pages, Paperback
First published November 28, 2005
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 29, 2022
Although one could make a case for the artistic merits of these pieces, I’d be hard pressed to qualify many of them as bracelets. They could be described as round sculptures, but not as functioning jewelry. Are they creative? Definitely. Could anyone wear them? Doubtful.
There were some samples that were beautiful and imaginative so I don’t want to give the impression that I felt this way about the entire book. But for the most part I was disappointed.
There were some samples that were beautiful and imaginative so I don’t want to give the impression that I felt this way about the entire book. But for the most part I was disappointed.
February 4, 2023
It's important to know going in that 500 Bracelets: An Inspiring Collection of Extraordinary Designs is not a DIY, instructional, tutorial, or even much of an aspir- or inspirational book. With one "bracelet" (and why I put bracelet in quotes will be explained in a moment) singly pictured per page in large-format, the only information given about each is the artist and title of the piece (if any); its dimensions, materials, and processes used (described in single words only); and the photo credit. Extremely rarely, a short artist statement about the piece is included, and they're each as art-speak word-salady as the next.
I've read many of Lark Books' other 500 < whatevers > titles, and this is the most esoterically conceptual of the lot: there are no "bracelets" in here that are more than one – or occasionally two – of the following: 1) attractive, 2) practical, 3) comfortable, and 4) not ridiculous. (Here's an example of my definition of ridiculous: Untitled, 2002 – an industrial-sized roll of packing tape, 26cm in diameter, pictured being worn on the forearm, with its material and creation process described as "Roll of adhesive tape; readymade".)
I'm not entirely sure who the intended audience was for this book, and I say this as a jewelry maker as well as a person who likes conceptual, abstract, and even outright weird art. As a jewelry-maker, any techniques I see on a piece and/or see listed in its description that might interest me are not described in enough (or any) detail to let me experiment with it in the way the artist did. I'm also not particularly inspired in an artistic way by anything here, because I make jewelry to be worn, not to be displayed in a modern art museum (as a few of the bracelets in this book actually are). As a consumer and collector of jewelry (which I also am!), given the problem of the four attributes mentioned above, there are no bracelets here that I would want to own or even wear. (And it's a good thing too, because the only information provided about each artist is their geographical location, listed alphabetically in an index in the back.)
On the positive side, the one-page statement by this collection's single juror is fascinating. I don't particularly appreciate or agree with her approach to selecting these 500 pieces (out of a pool of ~3000 submissions), and I especially did not think it worked very well for a book format (a fact she at least readily acknowledges herself). It is however an interesting read for jurors, judges, and curators of any form of art, detailing her entire thought process, what questions to ask, what considerations she prioritizes, etc.
As for others who might appreciate this book? Possibly metalsmiths, who can see here photos of many examples of very technical but innovative and unusual forging, fabricating, working, and finishing of precious metals. Fine jewelers who were traditionally trained and would like to see what kind of shenanigans they can get up to with decidedly non-traditional materials? Ummm… design students, maybe? Pretentious coffee table book collectors? Ya got me.
2 stars.
I've read many of Lark Books' other 500 < whatevers > titles, and this is the most esoterically conceptual of the lot: there are no "bracelets" in here that are more than one – or occasionally two – of the following: 1) attractive, 2) practical, 3) comfortable, and 4) not ridiculous. (Here's an example of my definition of ridiculous: Untitled, 2002 – an industrial-sized roll of packing tape, 26cm in diameter, pictured being worn on the forearm, with its material and creation process described as "Roll of adhesive tape; readymade".)
I'm not entirely sure who the intended audience was for this book, and I say this as a jewelry maker as well as a person who likes conceptual, abstract, and even outright weird art. As a jewelry-maker, any techniques I see on a piece and/or see listed in its description that might interest me are not described in enough (or any) detail to let me experiment with it in the way the artist did. I'm also not particularly inspired in an artistic way by anything here, because I make jewelry to be worn, not to be displayed in a modern art museum (as a few of the bracelets in this book actually are). As a consumer and collector of jewelry (which I also am!), given the problem of the four attributes mentioned above, there are no bracelets here that I would want to own or even wear. (And it's a good thing too, because the only information provided about each artist is their geographical location, listed alphabetically in an index in the back.)
On the positive side, the one-page statement by this collection's single juror is fascinating. I don't particularly appreciate or agree with her approach to selecting these 500 pieces (out of a pool of ~3000 submissions), and I especially did not think it worked very well for a book format (a fact she at least readily acknowledges herself). It is however an interesting read for jurors, judges, and curators of any form of art, detailing her entire thought process, what questions to ask, what considerations she prioritizes, etc.
As for others who might appreciate this book? Possibly metalsmiths, who can see here photos of many examples of very technical but innovative and unusual forging, fabricating, working, and finishing of precious metals. Fine jewelers who were traditionally trained and would like to see what kind of shenanigans they can get up to with decidedly non-traditional materials? Ummm… design students, maybe? Pretentious coffee table book collectors? Ya got me.
2 stars.
September 20, 2024
Filled with a lot of dreadfully ugly designs that look like they would either damage the wearer or her clothes.
November 1, 2012
When I picked up this book at the library, I expected it to be filled with a lot of uninspiring metal-work and outrageously unwearable art school designs. It had plenty of both, including one artist's submission of an unaltered roll of packing tape - *yawn*
I was pleasantly surprised, however, to find several very interesting designs, including a few beadwork pieces, and a Plastic Body bracelet by Margeaux Lange. It was actually quite fun to look through all of the bracelets, though only mildly inspiring.
I was pleasantly surprised, however, to find several very interesting designs, including a few beadwork pieces, and a Plastic Body bracelet by Margeaux Lange. It was actually quite fun to look through all of the bracelets, though only mildly inspiring.
June 16, 2009
This book is kind of part of a series by Lark (500 ________). These books have served me and many people I know as a source of Inspiration. They show one of a kind, hand made pieces by artists from all over the world. Some of the pieces also have descriptions from the artist about what inspired the piece or the ideas behind it. In a classroom, students could look at these books for ideas and see where other artists take their ideas from.
September 22, 2007
This is a great series, but I suppose this one shows that I am a craft geek, rather than a true jewelry artist, because I just plain old didn't get a lot of the bracelets.
January 25, 2008
Wow again!
May 23, 2008
500 bracelets book contains many examples of photographs of bracelets created by various artists. This collection of books would be great for students to get inspiration for the projects.
Want to read
April 27, 2013great
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews