THE BROOCH UNPINNED
the book, 'The Brooch Unpinned' celebrates the art of the brooch in britain from 1961 to 2021, as represented by stunning examples selected from the modern jewellery collection of the goldsmiths’ company.
in 1961 the company curated the first International exhibition of modern jewellery at goldsmiths' hall. it was a display that showed what post-war jewellery could be, stimulating a new age of jewellery design as the company became a major patron and promoter of studio art jewellery in precious metals.
a central aspect of this was the reinvention of the brooch as an art form, as makers increasingly began to consider its volume, surface texture and materiality in sculptural terms – what the maker, john donald, called "experiments in form."
using superb new photography, the book demonstrates how, from 1961 into the present, brooches have indeed become an art form: one that is versatile, wearable and contemporary, and through which makers continue to expand what is possible with precious metals.
the author, dr dora thornton, is the curator of the goldsmiths' company collection.