Brilliant Europe: Jewels from European courts
Diana Scarisbrick, Christophe Vachaudez, and Jan Walgrave, editors

Ing/Mercatorfonds/ Thames & Hudson, £39.95 (978-90-6153-774-8)
Church Times Bookshop £35.95

This gold eagle, with its faceted garnet body, and ruby wings and talons, once part of a sword-hilt, came into the possession of Louis XIV of France, probably through Marie Louise Gonzaga de Nevers, who married two Polish kings. It is one of the splendid items in The 230 jewels selected are outstanding items, as well as being relevant to Europe’s social and cultural history

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