| A HISTORY OF JEWELRY When did we first | | | | necklaces that persisted from about 2500 B.C. to |
| begin wearing jewelry? What purpose did it signify | | | | 479 - 323 B.C. Stamping was common as well as |
| at the time? When was the first ring or token | | | | gold granulation and filigree. The Byzantine nobility |
| given to express a form of marriage or union, or | | | | wore jewelry in lavish profusion. Dresses were |
| perhaps to seal a treaty? To answer these | | | | made with gold set with jewels; pearls, rubies, and |
| questions, we must look back through history, not | | | | emeralds mounted in gold were worn at the neck |
| only hundred, but at least thousands of years. | | | | and shoulders and hung in festoons from the |
| These questions call for answers, as the more we | | | | temples to the breast. Most certainly too lavish |
| become aware of jewelry historically and the part | | | | for our most expensive clothing today, although |
| it played in peoples lives for so many years, the | | | | we garnish our clothes with crystals, rhinestones, |
| more we can relate to our origins in jewelry of | | | | and faux pearls; perhaps as historical |
| today. Jewelry ornaments of precious metal, | | | | hand-me-downs! The Renaissance period became |
| sometimes set with gems have been worn since | | | | an even more important part of fashionable |
| ancient times by people of all cultures for personal | | | | costume. Rich velvet and silk robes for both men |
| adornments, of badges of social rank, and as | | | | and women were embroidered with pearls and |
| emblems of religious, social and political affiliation. | | | | sparkling gems. During the 17th and 18th Century, |
| Jewelry has been worn on the head in the for of | | | | jewelry was characterized by both luxury and |
| crowns, native headdresses made of feathers, | | | | popularity. The Arrangement, or Set, called a |
| bones and precious beads, tiaras, hairpins, hat | | | | parure often included a tiara or ring, necklace, |
| ornaments, earrings, nose rings, earplugs, and lip | | | | earrings, and brooch. Many magnificent parures |
| rings; on the neck in the form of collars, necklaces | | | | were created for the Royal Houses of Europe. |
| and pendants; on the breast in the form of | | | | These included watchcases, snuffboxes, seals, and |
| pectorals, brooches, clasps and buttons; on the | | | | thimble cases. The jewelry worn in Colonial |
| limbs in the form of bracelets, armlets and | | | | America was mostly imported from Europe. The |
| anklets; and at the waist in the form of belts and | | | | continent of Africa has produced jewelry of great |
| fancy girdles, such as chatelaines ensuring | | | | beauty and variety since prehistoric times. |
| chastity, scent cases and rosaries. The ancient | | | | Northern Africa is noted for silverwork, plain and |
| Egyptians were familiar with most of the | | | | enameled of the desert peoples. Craftspeople in |
| processes of ornamenting metal that are still in | | | | Medieval Africa made rings, bracelets, and other |
| use today. They skillfully produced engraved, | | | | ornaments out of gold, amber, ivory, brass, and |
| soldered, and inlaid jewelry. They commonly | | | | bronze. Beads of shell and glass have long been |
| worked in gold and silver and inlaid these metals | | | | important elements of personal adornment. |
| with semiprecious stones such as carnelian, jasper, | | | | Jewelry has also been used as a vehicle for |
| amethyst, turquoise, and lapis lazuli and with | | | | religious symbols; the crosses of Ethiopia and NW |
| enamel and glass. Their jewelry included diadems | | | | Africa; and to indicate social or economic status. |
| (headwear); wide bead necklaces or collars; hoop, | | | | Today's African jewelry echoes many traditional |
| hinged, or bead bracelets, and rings. An especially | | | | themes. As we examine this brief history of |
| popular ornament was the signet ring. Jewelry | | | | jewelry, the answers to our questions become |
| motifs - the scarab (beetle), lotus, falcon, serpent, | | | | significant. There is overwhelming evidence that |
| and eye, for example were derived from religious | | | | jewelry in some form has been a part of many |
| symbols. Sumerian, Babylon, and Assyrian tombs | | | | cultures for thousands of years. It's purpose, |
| of the 3rd and 2nd millennia have yielded a great | | | | materials, value, and symbolic meanings seem to |
| quantity of headdresses, necklaces, earrings, and | | | | have remained relatively constant through to |
| animal amulet figures in gold, silver, and gems. Fine | | | | modern times. It appears that jewelry has given |
| gold and silver were also made in ancient Persia | | | | people in days long ago the same pleasure and |
| and Phoenicia. Greek and Roman artisans of the | | | | meanings as it does for us today. |
| Minoan period executed earrings, bracelets, and | | | | |