The Historical Origins Of Today’s Jewellery

Human beings have always felt the urge to adorn themselves with material objects that they considered beautiful. The art of jewellery is a universal form of adornment found in one form or another in every culture on the globe, it is a human constant dating back to ancient times. Artisans the world over have laboured in mines and toiled over forges to bring us these shining creations that speak so deeply to our psyche.

In our modern times, you don’t have to go searching for precious stones, or dig for precious metals with your own hands, you can simply walk into a luxury jewelry store and if you can afford to, leave with a piece that would be the envy of Cleopatra’s court! Let’s now delve back through the mists of time and follow the story of jewellery as it winds through our early history with its glittering gold and shining gems!

The Ancient World – The jewellery of prehistory was made of simple things that could be found anywhere, shells, feathers, stones, and bones were melded together to make adornments of surprising sophistication- we know this because fortunately some examples of the works of these ancient artisans still survive today! This early jewellery could have been worn as a magical talisman against danger, as a mark of rank or status, or simply just because it made someone feel pretty, we will probably never know!

The discovery of metalworking ushered in a new era in the development of the jewellery arts. As techniques improved over time, the results became more sophisticated and intricate. Gold, which has always held a strange fascination to humanity that has lent it such high value, soon became a favourite of ancient jewellery makers, we have found it in many archaeological digs exploring tombs and temples. Jewellery was often buried with the dead, perhaps because it would show other denizens of the afterlife what their station had been in this world, or maybe just because their grieving relatives thought it would be a comfort to their lost loved ones wherever it was their souls were going.

The Medieval World –  Medieval Europe was a rigidly status-conscious and hierarchical society, and the jewellery of the period reflected that. Only the nobility and royalty were allowed to wear precious gems, silver, and gold, while the lowly serfs adorned themselves with cheap base metals like pewter or copper. Amulets of protection against various ailments and curses were very popular, and the more colourful and expensive they were, the greater their power!

It wasn’t until the late 14th century that gems began to be cut instead of just polished. It was the gem’s size and the lustre of its colour that determined its value, as it still does today! Ground glass fired at high temperature onto a metal surface were called enamels, and allowed goldsmiths to add colour to their designs on jewellery, another technique still in use. The medieval world can be seen as the birthplace of what we think of as jewellery today.

The Renaissance World – The Renaissance was an age of passion and splendour as the chains of the medieval world were cast off and society was reborn, ready to grow in new directions. The jewels of this exciting period reflected that zest for life, they became more colourful and elaborate as new techniques developed to further enhance the natural glitter of gems and the shine of precious metals.

Religion and classical mythology became the most popular themes, and their tales of awe and cosmic spectacle were reflected in the period’s jewellery. The most spectacular pieces were worn by the most powerful of course, but anyone could adorn themselves with fine jewellery if they could afford to! It was an age of possibilities, and a new sense of wonder that fostered some of the finest jewellery ever made.

The Early Modern World – The 17th century ushered in a multitude of new fashions, including new styles of jewellery. The old dark fabrics of earlier ages showed off the gold well, but the influx of lighter pastels provided the perfect backdrop for pearls and bright gemstones, and as global trade expanded and flourished, so did the available selection! New cutting techniques were designed to enhance the gleam of gemstones under the candlelight of ballroom chandeliers. The belles of those balls wore large and ornate bodice or breast jewellery pinned to their dress fabrics to impress the other guests.

Botanical elements became all the rage in jewellery design, golden vines holding ruby fruits, silver trees with emerald leaves, a veritable forest of wealth, and seeds were planted that one can still find in the jewellery creations of today!

Of course, our modern times have seen many more innovations in jewellery designs, too many to list here, and as we mentioned earlier even the average jewellery store down the block carries pieces that the royalty of past ages would covet!

 Read more of my fashion posts here

Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.