white gold bangle – A Brief History of Jewelry
Posted: September 18, 2010 at 12:54 am
Mankind is fascinated by beauty, and enraptured by it they long to possess objects that are beautiful. This is an innate trait in human beings; one that so distinctly separates us from the rest of the animals. Even early barbarous men were desirous of decorating themselves and the very first forms of jewelry were shells, animal teeth and bones strung together. Mollusk jewelry, dating back to the Middle Stone Ages, has been discovered in caves of South Africa. The longing to own a thing of beauty and to adorn oneself with it is no means a recent development.
rn
Jewelry has come a long way from shells and bones; it’s fascinating how the art of body adornment using decorative objects has evolved through time.
rn
Purpose of Jewelry
rn
Jewelry serves many purposes other than to serve as mere decorations. Over the ages, they have been used to symbolize wealth, used as currency, fashion accessory and also to serve as a form of artistic expression.
rn
Precious metals and stones were used from very early ages as a sign of wealth and opulence. Royalty have always used jewelry as a means for securing and consolidating wealth and even to the present day, some of the most precious pieces of jewelry are antiques. Royal jewels rank among the most expensive and luxurious assets of all times.
rn
Many forms of jewelry that we use today have their genesis as purely functional pieces. Pins, brooches and buckles were initially created to serve specific practical purposes, but they later evolved into more decorative versions and began to be considered as jewelry for adornment. Jewelry has also been an important part in religion and social groups, to signify membership in a group and the status within.
rn
Egyptian Jewelry
rn
It would be apt to call Egypt the originating point of modern jewelry as we see it today. Many artisans in Egypt engaged themselves in perfecting the artistic skills and techniques involved in creating beautiful pieces of jewelry. While artistry was valued, the primary purpose of Egyptian jewelry was to serve as talismans and amulets that ward off evil.
rn
white gold bangle was extensively used to make jewelry because it was readily available and because of its color and dazzle. Egyptians placed prime value on color and gemstones in jewelry. Gemstones were believed to possess mystical powers which would transfer to the person wearing them.
rn
Perhaps one of the most popular and well known symbols of Egyptian jewelry is the sacred Egyptian scarab. Several pieces of jewelry were made in the form of scarabs.
rn
Tutankhamun’s tomb, discovered in early 1900s, contained many white gold bangle funerary artifacts that speak eloquently of the craftsmanship of ancient Egyptian jewelry makers.
rn
Greece and Rome
rn
Beads shaped like flowers, shells and beetles were made extensively by the Greeks. They made multicolored jewelry using amethysts, garnets, pearls and other gemstones. Glass and enamel were also widely used. Filigree white gold bangle work was also recurring motif in ancient Greek jewelry.
rn
Italians produced granulated and textured white gold bangle work as early as eighth century BC. They made necklaces, bracelets, earrings and perfume filled hollow pendants. The Romans also used 18 and 24 carat white gold bangle as currency.
rn
Middle Age
rn
Middle Age was the time when Christianity emerged as the prominent religion. Jewelry made during this time often carried motifs and symbols of Christian faith. The Christian monasteries were in fact responsible for producing most of the jewelry during this time. Monasteries then had to support themselves financially through trade, and jewelry making was one of the preferred crafts.
rn
But Celtic cultures in Ireland, largely unaffected by Christianity, still continued to maintain their own unique style and manufacturing methods. Celtic designs a
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
