The Fascination of Jewellery: 7000 Years of Jewellery at the MAKK

Author: Petra Hesse

Format: Hardcover | 360 pages

Dimensions: 22 x 3.68 x 28 cm

Publication date : 17 Mar. 2025

• A comprehensive monograph on 7000 years of jewellery history
• Features 374 exemplary objects showcase the evolution of jewellery and are explained in short, informative texts
• An essay by Beatriz Chadour-Samson completes the catalogue, delving into the social, societal, emotional and symbolic aspects of jewellery
• Text in English and German

This outstanding jewellery collection of the Cologne Museum of Applied Arts (MAKK) will be showcased for the first time in a dedicated exhibition. Featuring cross-epochal and cross-cultural themes, the exhibition successfully presents diverse approaches to the art of jewellery-making. The photographs of around 370 objects and the accompanying descriptions demonstrate just how multifaceted jewellery design is. The social, societal, emotional and symbolic aspects of jewellery are also evaluated and discussed in an essay by Beatriz Chadour-Sampson.

The MAKK’s jewellery collection of around 1600 works spans a period of 7000 years: from ancient oriental gems from the 5th millennium BC to contemporary jewellery. This is what makes this collection so unique and diverse.