15 November 2023
Andrew Prince
Synopsis
Through the many jewels he made for the main characters in the acclaimed TV series ‘Downton Abbey’, Andrew examines changing styles in the period 1890 to 1929. Jewellery and fashion are often seen as two distinct fields of design; however, this is very far from the case. Downton to Gatsby explores an extraordinary era when great couturiers collaborated with the finest of craftsmen to produce creations of outstanding quality and glittering opulence. As well as studying the creative skills involved, this lecture also introduces the clients and patrons who commissioned these fabulous jewels, and shows how they were worn with the sumptuous gowns.
CV
Andrew Prince’s (literal) consuming passion for jewels dates to the occasion when, at the age of three, he swallowed one of his mother’s pearl earrings. He first worked in a Bond Street jeweller, where he developed a taste for jewellery appreciated more for its design and craftsmanship than for the value of the stones. He began creating his own exquisite pieces, which have adorned royalty and couture customers as well as celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Miss Piggy, and the stars of Downton Abbey. Andrew is now also a respected lecturer on the history of fashion and jewellery – though his true passion is still to create beautiful jewels that will be worn and loved.