Kevin Coates: A Bestiary Of Jewels’ At The Ashmolean Museum

January 23, 2014

By Katerina Perez

3 min read

“Coates is Britain’s leading artist-goldsmith, with a renaissance imagination and an ingenuity to match” – The TIMES

A perfectly executed mix of artistic skill and interpretation to be seen to be believed. – The SUNDAY TIMES

Kevin Coates: A Bestiary of Jewels’ at the Ashmolean Museum

Kevin Coates: A Bestiary of Jewels’ at the Ashmolean Museum

Kevin Coates is a real genius and I admire his work for the meaning behind it, the materials, the display or mounts, and the craftsmanship. Words can’t describe his work – you need to see it to believe it. – Ornella Iannuzzi

Kevin Coates: A Bestiary of Jewels’ at the Ashmolean Museum

Kevin Coates: A Bestiary of Jewels’ at the Ashmolean Museum

Having read the quotes above one would have a natural desire to find out more about Kevin Coates and see his magical precious objects and jewellery with their own eyes. Starting from the 17th of January until the 30th of March, this all is possible: The Ashmolean museum in Oxford holds a special show of Dr Kevin Coates’ work called “A Bestiary of  Jewels”.

Kevin Coates: A Bestiary of Jewels’ at the Ashmolean Museum

Kevin Coates: A Bestiary of Jewels’ at the Ashmolean Museum

It is an fascinating project representing a “Bestiary” of sculptural jewels in a poetic elaboration of the bizarre medieval encyclopaedias known as Bestiaries. Historically they assembleed lore and myth about animals and now Kevin Coates created his own additions to the book: A Parrot for Flaubert; A Starling for Mozart; A Rhinoceros for Kaendler; and A Dodo for Mr. Dodgson. Crucially, he has paired a series of individual creatures with their significant human, where the jewel is mounted in a modelled and painted Bestiary ‘page’.

Kevin Coates: A Bestiary of Jewels’ at the Ashmolean Museum

Kevin Coates: A Bestiary of Jewels’ at the Ashmolean Museum

The designer himself describes his work as “a voyage of discovery… of this dream Ark of mine”. The exhibition begins its year-long national tour at the Ashmolean, alongside a selection of “Birthday jewels” which the artist has made over the years for his wife, Nel Romano. Many of them will be exhibited for the first time in public.

Kevin Coates: A Bestiary of Jewels’ at the Ashmolean Museum

Kevin Coates: A Bestiary of Jewels’ at the Ashmolean Museum

Kevin Coates writes: “Here, I have made a Bestiary whose pages, in each case, are shared by the coupling of two individuals meeting across the great man/animal divide. These pages also have a concrete existence: they are wall-mounts, which each bear a jewel – a removable, wearable, jewel – through which I hope to express something of the joy I have in these special connections, overcoming, as they do, the want of a common language beyond that “great language” found in the eyes of animals…”

The Designer Monologue: Fine Art Jewellery by Ornella Iannuzzi

continue reading

Verified in Vegas: The Biggest Jewellery Trends of the Couture Show 2025

The Couture Show presents a curated view of the best in craftsmanship, design, fresh ideas and originality, which is why it’s such a vital place to forecast the ‘next big thing’. Here’s what I have gleaned from this year’s State-side events

by Sarah Jordan

Instant Charm: Celebrating New Creations with Karina Choudhrie Jewels

Let's take a closer look at the latest pieces that have emerged from Karina's incredible imagination…

by Katerina Perez

Key Facts About Gold: An Ancient Symbol of Power and Luxury

In an age where digital currencies rise and fall, gold remains a universal symbol of stability, beauty, and lasting worth. It is worn on the skin, locked in vaults, and passed down through generations as a living legacy.

by Hirshi Sujanti

Little Legends: The History and Power of Pinky Rings

Pinky rings have long carried cultural weight - from Ancient Mesopotamian seals to Egyptian signets and Japanese kamon heirlooms. Today, the style is experiencing a resurgence, thanks to contemporary designers and a growing list of high-profile wearers, including Meghan Markle, Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Victoria Beckham, Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski

by Joshua Hendren

Forever in Bloom: The Timeless Charm of Flowers in Jewellery

Flowers may fade in a vase, but flowers in jewellery—they bloom eternally

by Hirshi Sujanti

Double Vision: The Art and Allure of Reversible Jewellery

With versatility driving today’s jewellery trends, reversible designs are enjoying a quiet resurgence. From transformable lockets to rotating rings and earrings that change with a flip, these reversible jewellery creations reflect a growing desire for multi-dimensional design.

by Joshua Hendren

Coloured Diamonds: Why They’re Rare, Valuable and Incredibly Collectible

In the world of diamonds, white may be the standard, but colour is where the magic really happens. From blush pinks and oceanic blues to canary yellows and rare violets, coloured diamonds are nature's most extravagant anomaly

by Claire Roberts

Jewellery Manifesto: Tracing Three Pivotal Decades with Pomellato Collezione 1967

With Collezione 1967, Pomellato is presenting its ‘Jewellery Manifesto’ through 75 pieces, each inspired by one of three revolutionary decades in its creative history: the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Let’s take a closer look at the Maison’s artistic signatures, reinvented for a new generation of high jewellery lovers… 

by Sarah Jordan

Pink City Style: The Best-Selling Reversible Jewels of Gyan Jaipur

I would like to tell you more about the brand, its origin story, design inspirations and its popular Jaipur and Yami collections

by Katerina Perez

Fabulous Futures: Le Vian Unveils its 2026 Jewellery Trends in Las Vegas

Here's a rundown of what was included this year…

by Sarah Jordan

Exceptional Splendour: Jaipur Gems Celebrates 50 Years with Abu Dhabi Opening and New High Jewels 

Let me take you on a behind-the-scenes tour of the new Abu Dhabi boutique and share some of my sparkling highlights

by Katerina Perez

Radiating Confidence: The Mother-Daughter Energy Behind Growing Brand Aponine

As one of this year’s Couture show debutants, Turkish brand Aponine impressed me with its blend of colourful creativity, timeless elegance, and stylish femininity. Let’s take a closer look…

by Katerina Perez

Latest Stories

Add articles and images to your favourites. Just

Epic Evolution:Miseno Launches the Arco Collection to Celebrate a Fabulous Decade

I am pleased to present to you my highlights of the new Arco High Jewellery collection, which was formally showcased to the jewellery world at Couture from June 4-8, 2025

by Katerina Perez

Jewels Katerina Perez Loves

Continue Reading

In Conversation:Discussing Paraiba - The Legacy of a Color

with Vogue Singapore

by Katerina Perez

Jewellery Insights straight to your inbox

Style Guide

By using this website, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.