Jewelry art in Japan is, surprisingly, mainly a twentieth-century development. Classical Japanese jewelry was never made simply for ornament, but had a practical purpose, with beautifully crafted belt toggles, fans, and haircombs being worn for social and religious occasions. In the last few years, however, a whole new studio jewelry scene has emerged in Japan, producing objects of astounding quality. Featuring 200 beautifully illustrated examples of the very finest work by 50 contemporary artists, and in particular the revolutionary materials being used, including lipstick, ash, and naturally decaying naphthalene, Contemporary Japanese Jewellery is the first book to be published outside Japan that charts the trends and developments in this growing area of interest. With a historical overview of the Japanese jewelry-making tradition and its social context, as well as twentieth-century developments as Japan became increasingly influenced by the West, Contemporary Japanese Jewellery will be indispensable to anyone interested in modern developments in jewelry-making, and of great appeal to the broader craft and design communities.