What a refreshing book to have and read! If you love the look of whimsical costume jewelry to wear or collect, Warman's Costume Jewelry Figurals is a great book to have. I'm never considered myself a jewelry collector, but this book could just change that, especially as I browse through the various chapters of collecting figural jewelry.

Author Kathy Flood's folksy style of writing is a perfect fit to a book about whimsical stuff.


She obviously loves jewelry and is serious about her book, but it's apparent she also has lots of fun with it.

Flood's "ten bargain areas and where to find them" has great tips for beginners and includes areas that more serious collectors might bypass. "Buying the best you can" is a common statement from collecting experts and it certainly is true, but someone needs to buy the battered pieces.

Flood's answer is in her Fixer Uppers tip. She says to learn how to repair jewelry in order to buy great bargains in damaged goods. She suggests learning how to replace missing stones, solder pin back findings and touch up enameling. she stresses that it might not be for those who plan to resell, but if the jewelry is for one's personal collection to go for it.

A sign of the times is the chapter devoted to Reproductions. The costume jewelry market has been hit as hard as most of the antiques and collectibles market, but Flood explains that there actually are good reproductions, along with the bad ones.

Learn what to look for in vintage pieces, more about the designers who create the fabulous pieces and be tempted by jewelry from $10 - $3,800.

With over 1,000 color photographs and prices this is a great book for the collector who wants a well-rounded library and a must-have for the costume jewelry collector.

Publisher: Krause Publications
ISBN Number: 0-89689-562-9
Number of Pages: 256
Size: 8.25" x 10.875"
Cover: Softcover
Retail Price: $24.99