History Of Antique Jewellery

The history of jewellery has been influenced by the people of that period, their discoveries and current fashions. Jewellery has always been worn since mankind has been able to fashion precious gemstones.

The discovery of jewellery in Egyptian tombs of 4000BC displays the desire of the wealthy to wear precious personal adornments.
The Greeks fashioned the most delicate filigree jewellery The Romans developed cameo and intaglio carving on stones and were also using designs from previous dynasties.

Jewellery during the eighteenth century drew inspiration from classical forms, symmetrical and baroque designs reigned. The use of Rococo in design came from Europe, the imagery was taken direct from nature and moved away from the formal baroque; by using designs with shells, flowers and scrolls.
The last half of the eighteenth century saw coloured gems becoming fashionable.

The nineteenth century brought two influences to the fore in jewellery design. They were; The Industrial Revolution and Romantic Ideology.

Victorian jewellers were influenced by the medieval period and this was the movement towards Gothic Revival. During this period, fine enamel work on high carat gold were often set with diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, or rubies.

Queen Victoria was in mourning for forty years following the death of Prince Albert in 1861. The country shared her distress and black was reflected in the jewellery sold, using materials of jet, French glass, black enamel with apertures for hair and dedications to the deceased.

The Romantic Movement was stirring, and fine jewellery in the Byzantine, Grecian, and Etruscan styles were being made by Carlo Guiliano and Castellani and sold in London. In St. Petersburg, Carl Faberge was producing wonderful enamel and gem set jewellery for Russia’s aristocracy.

Arts and Crafts also known as Art Nouveau, moved jewellery design into an era of naturalistic forms featuring nature. Rene Lalique was the supreme master of this form of design with his use of materials to reflect that ethereal feeling.

Moving into the Edwardian period jewellery designs saw the use of the ultimate white metal, platinum, revered for it’s hard wearing properties.
Pushing the design boundaries at this time were the jewel houses of Cartier and Boucheron in Paris and Tiffany in New York.

In the mid 1920’s geometric forms (Art Deco) became the fashion design in houses, flats, cinemas, and of course jewellery was there in the mix once again;
which is where this story started…………………..
‘‘The history of jewellery has been influenced by the people of that period’’