Description

The father of modern jewellery, the golden engineer, the King of Bling… These are just some of the epithets assigned to Andrew Grima, the British genius who marched in the vanguard of a 1960s London-based movement that created a new vocabulary for jewellery design. Jeweller to the royals and the jet set, to the rule makers and the tastemakers, Grima was a feted celebrity who appeared on talk shows, in Pathe newsreels and in advertisements for Canada Dry. He won The Queen’s Award for Export, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Prize for Elegant Design and a record 11 De Beers Diamonds International Awards (the ‘Oscars’ of the jewellery world). His business empire spanned the globe. Yet his name fell prey to time and changing tastes, and today, with the exception of jewellery snobs, dealers and auction houses, he is all but forgotten. This book illuminates the career of a man who participated in a golden age of British creativity. It contains a dazzling array of never-before-seen sketches, designs and photographs from the Grima archives and includes a sparkling preface from the doyen of jewellery experts, TV celebrity Geoffrey Munn. A must-buy publication for art and jewellery lovers alike. AUTHORS: William Grant is the husband of Andrew Grima’s second wife Jojo, and step-father to their daughter Francesca. He therefore has unique access to the family history and has thoroughly investigated the verbal and written testimony about Grima, as well as the brand’s extensive archives. SELLING POINTS: . The first major monograph on Andrew Grima, arguably Britain’s greatest jewellery maestro . A glittering retrospective that encompasses Andrew Grima’s life, career and legacy . Detailed pictures demonstrate Grima’s impeccable artistry as a modernist designer . Preface by TV celebrity and Antique Roadshow expert, Geoffrey Munn 425 colour images