Robert Lee Morris: The Power of Jewelry

RRP £29.95 Lowest New Price £16.99

Harry N. Abrams, Inc. Number of pages: 180

RRP: £29.95
MORE THAN JUST BEAUTIFUL
Review date: 2004-10-23 Rating: 8 out of 10

Women have been adorning themselves with jewelry and body art almost since time began. What earlier generations did not have was the imagination of award winning designer Robert Lee Morris whose bold, dramatic creations in gold and silver are worn by the famous, such as Madonna, Oprah, Cher, as well as the lady next door.

The son of an air force pilot and a former fashion model, Morris was exposed at any early age to differing cultures. A four year stint in Japan left him with lasting memories of the beauty and customs of that country. Undoubtedly, this experience and others have been an inspiration to him.

"I had a very powerful vision in my head when I first began to make jewelry," he writes. "It was this specific, cinematic image that grounded me and gave me a sound place from which all my work sprang in the early years, from 1970 to 1980. I could envision a post-apocalyptic world populated by Amazon women....."

A major jump start for his career occurred when he was chosen to design the jewelry for Donna Karan's collections. Ms. Karan, an unabashed fan, wrote the foreword for this volume. "Robert's designs are remarkably sensual, They beg to be touched. When you hold or wear them they become part of you....."

Evidently Calvin Klein and Karl Lagerfeld shared her enthusiasm for Morris also did collections for both of them.

Morris's designs have been among the most wanted and noted for over 25 years, and he claimed the Platinum Guild International Grand Prize for Design Award in 1999. He continues to offer collections in his signature style of ethnic flavor and high fashion flair.

Enjoy and wish as you leaf through this lush 180 page volume with 230 full-color illustrations. With his candid, chatty narrative Morris proves himself to be a gifted communicator as well as designer.

- Gail Cooke