Silver

Silver was formed through the supernovas of stars, and its history continues to be marked by cataclysm. Through currency and trade, it brought the continents of the Americas, Europe and Asia closer together; then, through war and trade imbalance, it destabilized empires. It encouraged great technological virtuosity to discover, extract and refine the precious metal, and ingenuity to restore the landscapes its mining had despoiled. Through-out its history silver has inspired greed and ruination, yet it also cleanses water and wounds. Once used as a mirror, it reflects our most human needs and desires.Featuring many glistening illustrations of silver in nature and art, jewellery, film, advertising and popular culture, this is a superb overview of a metal that is both precious and useful, with a rich and eventful history.