The Power of Jewelry Book

This is a signed coffee table book of eye candy and story telling, a biography of sorts written entirely by me, Robert Lee Morris. Most of the photos are by Karl Scheffel and Klaus Laubmayer. 180 pages and published in 2004 by Abrams, 10,000 copies of the book were published and sold out within a year. It is still available as gently used  work on Amazon.com. There is a very limited number of these rare signed books available through this website. All my books are brand new, not pre-owned. I will personalize any book if requested at time of sale.

 Amazon reviews

Robert Lee Morris is unquestionably one of the most innovative designers of body ornament of our time. Long noted for his distinctive fusion of primal forms, hand workmanship, and cutting-edge sensibility, his organic pieces are enthusiastically sought by connoisseurs of high fashion around the world.

This book, written by the artist himself and profusely illustrated with examples of his work, presents the varied production of this design genius over the course of his career. The many images of Morris’s works in metal and stone will fascinate anyone interested in the history of design, and will be an inspiration to collectors, designers, and students alike.

From Publishers Weekly

By the time he was 31, Morris had become one of the most influential jewelry designers in North America: his creations appeared all over fashion magazines like Vogue; his Manhattan jewelry store had become a favorite spot of celebrities like Bianca Jagger and Andy Warhol; and his work was marching down the runways of Calvin Klein, Karl Lagerfeld, Kansai Yamamoto and Donna Karen. In this coffee-table book cum memoir, Morris explains “how he grew from a self-taught jewelry designer to a recognizable brand name in such a relatively short time.” The designer, who is known for his “edgy blend of modern and tribal effects,” attributes his global sensibility to his college courses in anthropology and to his upbringing as an “Airforce brat.” He moved 23 times before he was 18 and lived for several years in Japan and Brazil. But it’s clear that the mainsprings of Morris’s success are his joyful, single-minded focus on his work and his savvy entrepreneurial spirit. Though his book contains asides on his marriage, his travels and his study of shamanism, it centers mostly on the origins of his signature creations, the development of the “designer jewelry” consumer niche in the 1970s and ’80s, and the way he managed his brand “as if it were a wild horse in a rodeo.” Morris now designs up to 10 jewelry collections a year, and though the name-dropping can be a bit heavy-handed in spots, his memoir is full of friendly advice for young artists. Morris’s fans will appreciate this careful history, but readers unfamiliar with his designs may find themselves skipping pages to stare at the large, full-color photos of his smooth knuckle rings, gently bulging necklaces, mesh belts, herringbone collars and sensual bracelets. They are unlike anything else.

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About the Author

Robert Lee Morris, a leading designer of jewelry and body ornament, is known for his one-of-a-kind pieces as well as his collaborations with such designers as Calvin Klein, Karl Lagerfeld, and Donna Karan. He has received the Coty Award and two Council of Fashion Designers of America awards.