I never read political memoirs, so when I saw Read My Pins by Madeleine Albright on the new book shelf at my local library, I almost passed it up. It was the subtitle that hooked me: Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box.
This photo-heavy book showcases pins from Albright's personal collection: dime-store pins (including some that were purchased for under $3), designer creations, antique treasures, and family heirlooms (even a heart pin made by her daughter when she was five). The jewelry is fascinating and so are the stories that go along with them.
Albright chose her pins to make diplomatic statements, seeing them as another vehicle for communication. She wore hot air balloon pins to express "high hopes" and a pin shaped like an interceptor missile for talks with the Russian foreign minister about the antiballistic missile treaty. Each pin had a story, a mix of personal and professional. Sometimes the stories from outsiders differed from the real story. For example, she purchased a set of three ship pins with her three daughters in mind, but people asked her if the ships represented the Niña, Pinta, and Santa María.
Madeleine's pins are on display at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC through October 11, 2010. The Smithsonian website also has photos of the pins on their website.
As jewelry designers, it's easy to get caught up in process and techniques, but Read My Pins reminds us that it's the personal connections and stories that make jewelry truly matter. What does your jewelry say?