A Brief History of
Jewelry
silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas Students of
the natural sciences are in agreement when they say that of all the
creatures in the animal kingdom, only humans seek to adorn
themselves
silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas . Even as far
in the past as primitive man, jewelry took on this role in a variety
of forms. Small objects were of primary importance, with some
examples being found in the early Neolithic strata of the caverns in
mas d’avil. It was here that many pierces stags’ teeth were
discovered, often still in the shape of a necklace with its holding
twine long since disintegrated.
silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas (Jewelry objects have now been found in pre-historic
Africa that date back about 75,000 years.) silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift
ideas
Closely related to the human need
for ornamentation was the use of jewelry silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas as amulets endowed
with magical powers. For a true understanding of the growth and
history of the importance of jewelry and precious stones, one has to
be aware of the indelible belief that precious stones could affect
the fortunes of the wearer. silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas
silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas Jewelry was
made with certain convictions in mind, to meld into, conform to and
strengthen beliefs. This was particularly true when religions began
to form an important sociological bond. silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas
Early in its inception, jewelry silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift
ideas was associated with religious rites. Gold
and jewels silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas were used as
gifts for the maintenance of worship. In accordance with this began
the presumption that benefits could be derived from their wear and
soon began the development of a complex network of fictitious powers
being attributed to them. silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas Curiously,
many of these legends surrounding the benefits of certain stones
were generally held all over the world. silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas Gold and
certain gems common to many parts of the globe were believed to
yield similar virtues. silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas
silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift
ideas Jewellers as artists are evident throughout
history. silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas The art has
been practiced in almost every condition in which civilizations have
existed. It is most plausible that the metal worker, with an advance
in knowledge, became the jeweller. As the more malleable metals were
wrought into rings, bracelets, and armlets, it is conceivable that
the need to posses small stones for the charm they retained made the
metalworker turn to setting these stones in his or her metal
ornaments . Although the methods were primitive, the fastening of
stones became an integral part of the craft silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas.
silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas In jewelry
circles today and in the recent past, there are considered only four
truly precious stones: the diamond, the ruby, the emerald and the
blue sapphire. Among the earliest known treasures of the pharaohs,
emeralds, rubies and sapphires silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas were seldom
used, while turquoise silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas, jasper, lapis
lazuli, carnelian and rock crystal played a substantial role silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas. Since color was
all important, diamonds were quite unknown. The use of gemstones and
precious metals during this time were not limited, but spread
lavishly about wherever ornament was desired.
Soon jewelry advanced from a simple
ornamental silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas or amulet
stance to a more practical one. Jewels became used as a symbol of
rank, wealth and social standing. When taking on this role, they
became an investment of marketable value silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas . This economic
aspect of easily liquidating these possessions became an essential
part of the politics of Europe when Francis I instituted the crown
jewels as legal entity silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas . For his
successors these jewels silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas were
often used during the religious wars to guarantee foreign loans.
silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas The three
basic roles that jewelry has played, the ornament, the amulet and
the symbol of wealth, have remained constant to the present time.
This paper will attempt to trace these developments, particularly in
the growth and affect on the western world. Although this is not a
definitive work, it will give the reader a broad background on some
of the more popular methods of creating, legends and both customs
and whims of style that have been combined to give us a history of
jewelry silver
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift
ideas.