Jewelry History
There's something
about a beautiful piece of jewelry. Since the dawn of
civilization jewelry has been an integral part of culture; of
who we are. It says a lot about us. Tastes, styles and
statements have changed, but our love for those sparkling,
precious objects has never diminished. Long before clothing
developed into fashion those rare jewels and precious metals
were a cherished symbol of prestige and beauty. Over time,
jewelry has evolved from the mystical religious symbols of
pagans and objects of power and opulence of royalty to universal
fashion everyone can appreciate.
Egypt
Throughout the ages jewelry has made a statement about the
people and the culture that produced it – from religious beliefs
to statements about social standing. One of the most famous
ancient treasures ever found is that of the Egyptian pharaoh
Tutankhamen. The Egyptian goldsmiths were highly skilled
artisans who covered the mummy with a large quantity of gold and
jewels. Among the ornaments found in the tomb were necklaces,
amulets, pendants, bracelets, earrings, and rings of the typical
style of the time. Egyptian jewelry was highly symbolic and
symmetrical and had precise religious and mystical meanings.
Some of the symbols used in their jewelry were the scarab (a
large beetle), lotus flower, falcon, and serpent.
Greece
Jewelry was an art form all its own. The ancient Greek style of
jewelry more closely resembled miniature classic sculptures than
objects of adornment. The human figure, both male and female,
mythological figures and entire heroic scenes were popular
motifs for rings, earrings, pendants and other forms of jewelry.
As skill and technique improved, Greek jewelry became highly
detailed and eventually became complete works of art. One
example is an earring of a chariot scene complete with driver
and horses.
Rome
Power and wealth. In ancient Rome jewelry was at first an of
prestige reserved only for the highest social classes. But as
trade and the wealth of the Empire increased, jewelry became
available to all classes of citizens. Romans borrowed styles
from earlier cultures and added their own themes. In keeping
with the flamboyance of the time, jewelry became larger in size
and more ostentatious. They began to use more colored stones
than previous cultures, including topaz, emeralds, rubies,
sapphires, and pearls.
The Middle Ages
A return to simplicity. After the fall of Rome the style of
jewelry began to move away from depicting mythological icons and
heroic scenes and became ornaments used for decoration. The
style of the time was much more simple than that of earlier
cultures. Necklaces were gaining popularity and jewelry was used
to decorate both hair and clothing. In addition, jewelry was
often used to hold religious relics of saints.
The Renaissance
Decadence at its finest. During the Renaissance, jewelry once
again became highly developed works of art. The great artistic
ability of the craftsmen meant jewelry had become much more
elaborate and its great value came from its magnificent
workmanship rather than purely from the monetary value of gems
and precious metals used. Jewelry reached a popularity never
seen before that time, and both men and woman tried to outdo
each other with opulent displays of gems and gold. The wealthy
even decorated their hats and clothing with large, colored gems.
17th Century
We can sum this up in a couple of words – heavy, very heavy. The
17th century saw technical improvements in the cutting of
precious stones which reinforced the popularity of gems.
Beautiful floral arrangements were en vogue at this time and
were carried over to the design of jewelry. Gold ornaments were
often painted with enamel to create brightly colored flowers and
then later with diamonds and colored gems. At this time jewelry
was very large and very ornate which meant it was also very
heavy to wear.
18th Century
Vast amounts of Brazilian diamonds were being imported into
Europe at this time, and they enjoyed widespread popularity.
Since techniques of cutting precious stones had improved
dramatically, it became quite fashionable to show off the stones
by trying to hide the settings as much as possible. Because of
this jewelry was airier, lighter and easier to wear. People
finally had the opportunity to really show off the sparkle and
beauty of diamonds and other gems.
19th Century
The Industrial Revolution brought enormous change to the whole
world – and that included jewelry. Mass production finally made
jewelry available to everyone. For the first time it could be
produced on a large scale at prices both the middle and lower
classes could now afford. The quality of imitation stones also
improved so that even the lower–class could enjoy beautiful
rings, pendants and other pieces they couldn't previously
afford. On the other side, firms such as Faberge and Cartier
were producing high–quality jewelry for the rising bourgeois
class.
20th Century and Beyond
Today, jewelry comes in many different flavors. No matter who
you are or what your taste or budget, there are designs that
will suite your individual style. In the 20th century,
fashionable clothing finally gained the esteem and prominence
jewelry has always enjoyed. Now jewelry and fashion are joined
hand–in–hand. You can't have one without the other. There is
more room for creativity and personality than ever before. From
classic looks to the explosion of cool and ultra–modern body
piercing, if you want it, it's out there.
