Judith and Her Jewels
As the legend has it, Judith Miller began collecting costume jewelry at the beginning of the cultural revolution of the 1960’s, while a student at Edinburgh University in Scotland. But whether hunting for her next piece in clandestine antique shops near the University or scouring for pieces at the Antique Roadshow, Judith has always had a knack for finding the unexpected, the beautiful and the rare at just the right moment. When Judith launched the best-selling Miller’s Antique Price Guide in 1979, she helped fuel the desire for antiques, collectables and costume jewelry through her intellect, wit and sharp eye for dazzling objects that appealed to both new and old collectors.
This year Judith has once again reminded us how she is still one of the best at finding the most coveted gems and why costume jewelry still has its place in fashion and society with her new book Costume Jewelry (ISBN 9781845335632). This beautifully photographed book guides the reader through a comprehensive introduction to costume jewelry – through Ancient Egypt, Medieval France and 19th century America – and further provides the most authoritative information on 20thcentury jewelry by iconic names such as Trifari, Coro, Chanel and Dior as well as showcases exciting new designers like Erickson Beamon, Mawi and Eddie Borgo.
Judith recently visited Toronto, Ontario to talk about her book, her addiction to costume jewelry and to pick up a few Canadian pieces for her personal collection. After Judith caught up with Dina on Breakfast Television, we followed close behind as she scouted jewels at two fantastic Toronto antique shops - Twice Found and Cynthia Findlay Antiques. See photos below!
