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Decorated and Decorative Jewelry
by Giovanni Supagrillo
http://www.jewelrybystar.com
Jewelry can be defined as the article used for adornment to
look beautiful, to flaunt wealth or simply to follow
tradition or fashion. The ornaments used for this purpose
can be rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings or ankle
bracelets.
These are made of precious or semi precious stones and
gems. Some times imitations are also used instead of real
gems. Other materials such as nuts, feathers, bone, shells,
seeds, berries, ivory and metals also find their use in the
making of jewelry. Silver and bronze were the metals that
were used the most by the people in primitive age to make
jewelry. In modern times they are used in wrought jewelry.
However, it is gold that is more popular metal for making
jewelry. Jewelry itself is beautified by processes like
etching, engraving, filigree and graving in which stones
and gems are embedded in them.
Jewelry has been worn by young and old for a long time.
Discoveries have given some 75000 years old parts of
ornaments. One such instance is the discovery of very small
shell beads having grooves in them that tell the story that
once upon a time they were hung around somebody's neck or
arm in the form of necklace or bracelet respectively. These
were located in the caves of South Africa. East Asia gave a
complete new look to the art of making jewelry as it used
its enormous wealth to embellish the ornaments. From then on
pearls and stones were used in the jewelry. Antiques found
in Egypt reveal the unique craftsmanship used to make
jewelry in the ancient times. This jewelry consisted of
colorful flowers, scarab motifs and was exemplary.
In middle ages, big, heavy jewelry was used like big girdles
and brooches. Superstition led people to adorn some
ornaments like amber to ward off evil eye and spirit. Glass
beads made became popular in the 14th century. Renaissance
brought along modern method of making jewelry. Skilled
artisans and artists now started designing jewelry. Jewelry
used thereafter was more magnificent. Pendants having gems
and enamels of other metals were worn in chains and
necklaces. Men started using embellished collars having
precious stones in them. The designs were not refined until
the lapidary and the mounters took over in the 17th century.
Towards the end of the 17th century imitations of pearls
were introduced and gave way to cheap and easily affordable
jewelry.
With the advent of the twentieth century, the old style of
making and wearing jewelry completely gave way to factory
made jewelry, costume jewelry and hand wrought jewelry that
were worn not according to one's status but by matching them
with the dresses and the attires.
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