It would be difficult for any artist or designer not to be inspired by page after page of ingenious, surprising, beautifully designed objects. The extraordinary Farago Collection, which emphasizes work by American artists, was donated to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in 2006. Presented here are approximately 150 unique pieces of jewelry from the Collection, including works by such artist-jewelers as Alexander Calder, Art Smith, Ramona Solberg, to name just a few. The items are shown in full-page photos in an elegantly designed volume (9.5x11") along with essays by Kelly H. L'Ecuyer (curator of decorative arts & sculpture, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston) and by two contributors, also from MFA, Yvonne J. Markowitz and Gerald W.R. Ward, and by independent researcher Michelle Tolini Finamore. The essays discuss the Collection itself, the individual artists, the beginnings of studio jewelry, abstraction and assemblage, evolving directions, messages, meanings, materials, and techniques. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)