Medieval Jewelry is one of the oldest forms of body adornment. The beads with a history of 100,000 year-old made from Nassarius shells are thought to be the oldest known medieval jewelry. In the ancient world gold was the preferred metal for making jewelry. It was rare, did not tarnish and best of all it was malleable, so it could be worked fairly easily.
It is reported that two priceless hoards of medieval jewelry and coins have gone on display in the UK for the first time.
Among those precious finds, some can be traced to the 14th Century. Three of the earliest known examples of Jewish wedding rings have been displayed at London's Wallace Collection.
As for the origin of those items, experts say they were buried by families when there was Black Death in Europe. Stephen Duffy, of the Wallace Collection, in Manchester Square, said the items were "very rare and unusual survivors from the medieval period".
One part of the display was found in the walls of a house in Colmar, France in 1863, while the lager part was found later than the first one, in 1998 at Erfurt, Germany. She said: "It is impossible to put a value on such unique objects."
Karin Sczech, German archaeologist and curator of the exhibition said: "It is impossible to put a value on such unique objects."As well as being precious stones and materials, the items have great cultural and historical significance.
Further Reading:
===============
For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Medieval Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Medieval-Jewellery/
Showing posts with label Medieval Jewellery Info. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Medieval Jewellery Info. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Medieval Jewelry
The transcendent, timeless beauty of medieval jewels has not diminished with the passing of time. Made from the most precious and beautiful materials known to the medieval world—gold, silver, gems, pearls—, they also captivate modern beholders.
Few medieval jewels have come down to posterity. Because of the inherent value of their materials, many were destroyed, or rather, constantly recycled: they were melted down and reused in newer, more fashionable pieces.
However, the significance of medieval jewelry goes far beyond its material or decorative value. Precious objects communicated complex meanings and connotations and thus constituted an indispensable part of the medieval language of signs.
The raw materials
Goldsmiths worked mainly with the two most precious metals, gold and silver, and used enamel, pearls, and stones for the decoration of their products.
Gold was seen as the most prestigious metal, for which silver-gilt or silver were seen as poorer substitutes, most suitable for lower classes.
A large proportion of gold used in late medieval production was recycled gold: goldsmiths used ancient coins, jewelry, or other gold objects as their raw material. In the High Middle Ages, the previously produced gold stock of Europe was primarily accumulated in the court of the Byzantine emperors; consequently, little gold was circulated in the Western world. For coinage, for example, silver was generally used until the 13th century, when gold coinage was introduced in Italy, France, and England. This gold, however, was not newly produced but acquired through trade with the Arab countries, rich in gold since the early Middle Ages. From the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, gold production in Europe increased alongside the continuing importation of gold from the Arab world. A significant quantity of gold was mined, especially in Bohemia and Hungary, which two countries provided up to eleven twelfth of the total gold production of late medieval Europe. Most gold was produced by mining, but some gold was also gained by panning (swirling the deposits of rivers around in a pan to separate quartz from gold), especially in the Rhine area.
Silver, in contrast to gold, was produced continuously through the Middle Ages in Europe, and even exported from there. In addition to silver mines that played an important part in silver production in the early and the High Middle Ages—Poitou (Merovingian period), Sardinia (11th-12th c.), the environs of Goslar, Germany (10th-12th c.), Freiberg, Saxony (12th-14th c.),—rich silver mines were discovered in the second half of the thirteenth century in Kuttenberg (Kutná Hora), Bohemia, which supplied silver in great quantities until its decline, due to the Hussite wars, in the fifteenth century.
Precious stones were acquired almost exclusively from long-distance trade. Among the most frequently used stones, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, turquoises, and diamonds came mainly from the East: rubies were brought from India and Ceylon, sapphires from Ceylon, Arabia, and Persia, emeralds from Egypt, turquoises from Persia and Tibet, and diamonds from India and Central Africa. Europe also produced a variety of gems and semi-precious stones in the later Middle Ages. The source for amethysts was Germany and Russia. Rock crystal came from Germany, Switzerland and France, opals and garnets, from Eastern Europe. Besides precious stones, also a great variety of less valuable stones were frequently used, as it turns out from a list of precious stones written by a Jewish merchant in 1453.
For precious stone decoration, goldsmiths very frequently used also antique cameos and intaglios — precious or semiprecious stones decorated with engravings or reliefs—that survived (often encased in older, medieval metalwork) in large numbers and were highly sought after in the later Middle Ages. Cameos were set into many types of jewelry as decoration, and often reused again. Their usage is a evidence of the conscious attempt to keep awake or revive the spirit of Antiquity. The popularity of antique cameos and intaglios was, in fact, so high, that medieval gem-cutting itself developed in emulation of the classical models. However, Western European Middle Ages knew only clumsy imitations of antique cameos, while in Byzantium stone-carving remained a living tradition throughout the Middle Ages. Byzantine carved stones were eagerly imported to the West.
Other raw materials for the decoration of jewelry included freshwater pearls from Scotland, mother-of-pearl, amber—the fossilised resin of pine trees—found in great quantities along the Baltic coast, jet—the black fossilised remains of trees—mainly from England and Spain, and coral from the Mediterranean coast in North Africa.
Further Reading:
===============
For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Medieval Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Medieval-Jewellery/
Few medieval jewels have come down to posterity. Because of the inherent value of their materials, many were destroyed, or rather, constantly recycled: they were melted down and reused in newer, more fashionable pieces.
However, the significance of medieval jewelry goes far beyond its material or decorative value. Precious objects communicated complex meanings and connotations and thus constituted an indispensable part of the medieval language of signs.
The raw materials
Goldsmiths worked mainly with the two most precious metals, gold and silver, and used enamel, pearls, and stones for the decoration of their products.
Gold was seen as the most prestigious metal, for which silver-gilt or silver were seen as poorer substitutes, most suitable for lower classes.
A large proportion of gold used in late medieval production was recycled gold: goldsmiths used ancient coins, jewelry, or other gold objects as their raw material. In the High Middle Ages, the previously produced gold stock of Europe was primarily accumulated in the court of the Byzantine emperors; consequently, little gold was circulated in the Western world. For coinage, for example, silver was generally used until the 13th century, when gold coinage was introduced in Italy, France, and England. This gold, however, was not newly produced but acquired through trade with the Arab countries, rich in gold since the early Middle Ages. From the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, gold production in Europe increased alongside the continuing importation of gold from the Arab world. A significant quantity of gold was mined, especially in Bohemia and Hungary, which two countries provided up to eleven twelfth of the total gold production of late medieval Europe. Most gold was produced by mining, but some gold was also gained by panning (swirling the deposits of rivers around in a pan to separate quartz from gold), especially in the Rhine area.
Silver, in contrast to gold, was produced continuously through the Middle Ages in Europe, and even exported from there. In addition to silver mines that played an important part in silver production in the early and the High Middle Ages—Poitou (Merovingian period), Sardinia (11th-12th c.), the environs of Goslar, Germany (10th-12th c.), Freiberg, Saxony (12th-14th c.),—rich silver mines were discovered in the second half of the thirteenth century in Kuttenberg (Kutná Hora), Bohemia, which supplied silver in great quantities until its decline, due to the Hussite wars, in the fifteenth century.
Precious stones were acquired almost exclusively from long-distance trade. Among the most frequently used stones, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, turquoises, and diamonds came mainly from the East: rubies were brought from India and Ceylon, sapphires from Ceylon, Arabia, and Persia, emeralds from Egypt, turquoises from Persia and Tibet, and diamonds from India and Central Africa. Europe also produced a variety of gems and semi-precious stones in the later Middle Ages. The source for amethysts was Germany and Russia. Rock crystal came from Germany, Switzerland and France, opals and garnets, from Eastern Europe. Besides precious stones, also a great variety of less valuable stones were frequently used, as it turns out from a list of precious stones written by a Jewish merchant in 1453.
For precious stone decoration, goldsmiths very frequently used also antique cameos and intaglios — precious or semiprecious stones decorated with engravings or reliefs—that survived (often encased in older, medieval metalwork) in large numbers and were highly sought after in the later Middle Ages. Cameos were set into many types of jewelry as decoration, and often reused again. Their usage is a evidence of the conscious attempt to keep awake or revive the spirit of Antiquity. The popularity of antique cameos and intaglios was, in fact, so high, that medieval gem-cutting itself developed in emulation of the classical models. However, Western European Middle Ages knew only clumsy imitations of antique cameos, while in Byzantium stone-carving remained a living tradition throughout the Middle Ages. Byzantine carved stones were eagerly imported to the West.
Other raw materials for the decoration of jewelry included freshwater pearls from Scotland, mother-of-pearl, amber—the fossilised resin of pine trees—found in great quantities along the Baltic coast, jet—the black fossilised remains of trees—mainly from England and Spain, and coral from the Mediterranean coast in North Africa.
Further Reading:
===============
For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Medieval Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Medieval-Jewellery/
Friday, April 3, 2009
Medieval Jewellery
Most of the jewellery fashioned in medieval times appears to have been made by the blacksmith. Logically this was the man in the medieval community who worked with metal and other materials and knew how best to manipulate them. It appears also that to be a blacksmith you had to be a man! However, history tells us that both men and women made medieval jewellery.
Many different items were made but perhaps the most popular of these was the brooch. Medieval brooches were fashioned by casting the metal. Various styles and variations could also be achieved by punching the designs into the metal and wires or small circular pieces of metal were fixed to the flat surface of a brooch to create a raised effect. Brooches were
an extremely important piece of medieval jewellery as they were used for practical purposes as well as decorative ones – they were used to hold cloaks in place. In order to do this they had to be a substantial size and strong enough to hold the cloak closed.
Necklaces also adorned people in medieval times. Both men and women wore necklaces for decoration. Necklace production could be very simple with leather and beads or an elaborate mix with semi precious stones. As well as necklaces, pendants were also made. These pendants were fashioned from semi precious stones as well as crucifixes, in the traditional medieval shape, where all arms of the cross are equal in length. It seems that modern jewellery is just a variation on the theme of medieval jewellery.
Further Reading:
===============
For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Medieval Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Medieval-Jewellery/
Many different items were made but perhaps the most popular of these was the brooch. Medieval brooches were fashioned by casting the metal. Various styles and variations could also be achieved by punching the designs into the metal and wires or small circular pieces of metal were fixed to the flat surface of a brooch to create a raised effect. Brooches were
an extremely important piece of medieval jewellery as they were used for practical purposes as well as decorative ones – they were used to hold cloaks in place. In order to do this they had to be a substantial size and strong enough to hold the cloak closed.
Necklaces also adorned people in medieval times. Both men and women wore necklaces for decoration. Necklace production could be very simple with leather and beads or an elaborate mix with semi precious stones. As well as necklaces, pendants were also made. These pendants were fashioned from semi precious stones as well as crucifixes, in the traditional medieval shape, where all arms of the cross are equal in length. It seems that modern jewellery is just a variation on the theme of medieval jewellery.
Further Reading:
===============
For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Medieval Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Medieval-Jewellery/
Medieval Style Jewelry
Medieval jewelry is comprised of many different styles. One of them is the Celtic jewelry. Celtic medieval jewelry used vast number of symbols for representation of different emotions and expressions. In those times, there was no proper government ruling the state or the country. They had tribes who were dependent upon the cultures and ethics according to their need and requirement.
Some of the symbols used in the medieval style jewelry were knot work, spiral, the cauldron symbol, serpent and dragons, Celtic cross and many more. They had specific meanings according to their beliefs.
Knot work represented the maze of their times through eternity. The people of the era believed that their life went on in a cycle such that the rebirth would be going to take place again and again until the soul is completely satisfied. The maze declared this cycle and presented signs for eternal peace.
Spiral is somewhat the same
as the knot work. It also gives an idea of reincarnation and rebirth; representing the cycle from which every person had to go through. Knot work and spiral are the two main symbols of Celtic era; thus show strong illustrations in the medieval styled jewelry as well.
The cauldron symbol represented the change of position and shape of child while birth. The cauldron is based upon the influence of earth goddess of the Celts. She being the goddess of transformation is believed to have the power of child birth.
Serpents and Dragons were believed to be aroused from inside of the earth. Serpents had all the powers of underground world and had divine knowledge. Dragons had all the powers of depth; they were also believed to be the gate keepers of the other worlds.
Celtic cross was considered the bridge to other worlds in medieval jewelry. It was also taken as the connection to strength and knowledge. The Celtic cross was believed to be a solar symbol and sign of light and energy.
Further Reading:
===============
For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Medieval Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Medieval-Jewellery/
Some of the symbols used in the medieval style jewelry were knot work, spiral, the cauldron symbol, serpent and dragons, Celtic cross and many more. They had specific meanings according to their beliefs.
Knot work represented the maze of their times through eternity. The people of the era believed that their life went on in a cycle such that the rebirth would be going to take place again and again until the soul is completely satisfied. The maze declared this cycle and presented signs for eternal peace.
Spiral is somewhat the same
as the knot work. It also gives an idea of reincarnation and rebirth; representing the cycle from which every person had to go through. Knot work and spiral are the two main symbols of Celtic era; thus show strong illustrations in the medieval styled jewelry as well.
The cauldron symbol represented the change of position and shape of child while birth. The cauldron is based upon the influence of earth goddess of the Celts. She being the goddess of transformation is believed to have the power of child birth.
Serpents and Dragons were believed to be aroused from inside of the earth. Serpents had all the powers of underground world and had divine knowledge. Dragons had all the powers of depth; they were also believed to be the gate keepers of the other worlds.
Celtic cross was considered the bridge to other worlds in medieval jewelry. It was also taken as the connection to strength and knowledge. The Celtic cross was believed to be a solar symbol and sign of light and energy.
Further Reading:
===============
For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Medieval Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Medieval-Jewellery/
Medieval Jewellery
The main inspiration of medieval jewellery was the Crusades and Sumptuary Laws. The size and colors of jewels determined their value. These jewels were known for their magical powers to protect the wearer. Gemstones used in these jewellery articles were; diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires and pearls. Semi-precious stones like turquoise, coral, garnets, amethysts, onyx, amber, coral, opals, and peridots were used.
Medieval jewels were used to decorate hair and clothes. Decorative buttons and fancy ornaments like clasps, belts, jewels for hats and brooches were commonly used. Other articles including; necklaces, pendants, bracelets and rings were quite popular. Medieval necklaces were usually simple strings of beads, pearls and other stones of glass and crystal. Metal beads were also used to make exotic designs of necklaces. Bracelets were very elegant having simple beaded strings.
The sensational medieval jewellery has maintained its beauty and charm even after centuries. These types of jewels were usually made of precious and gorgeous gold, silver, copper and pewter with a combination of dazzling gems and pearls. Pendants and earrings were also common in that period. Pendants of different sizes and shapes were composed of sparkling gemstones. Head pieces including; tiaras, crowns and head bands were made of pearls and other gorgeous gemstones.
Other than decorative value of this exquisite jewellery, these items also had complex meanings and connotations. Due to the strong meanings attached to them they became an essential part of the medieval language of signs. Rings were the most commonly worn articles. They were made from various metals like gold, silver, and bronze. Cheap metal alloys were also used to make rings for the lower classes.
The gems used in medieval articles were not cut until the 14th century, they were only polished. The enchanting jewels of medieval period included; brooches and clasps having heraldic motifs, like the 12th century Rhenish eagle-shaped gold fibula decorated with garnets. Belts were decorated with metal fittings and mounts and other clothing jewels included buttons that were used to decorate gowns and robes.
Further Reading:
===============
For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Medieval Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Medieval-Jewellery/
Medieval jewels were used to decorate hair and clothes. Decorative buttons and fancy ornaments like clasps, belts, jewels for hats and brooches were commonly used. Other articles including; necklaces, pendants, bracelets and rings were quite popular. Medieval necklaces were usually simple strings of beads, pearls and other stones of glass and crystal. Metal beads were also used to make exotic designs of necklaces. Bracelets were very elegant having simple beaded strings.
The sensational medieval jewellery has maintained its beauty and charm even after centuries. These types of jewels were usually made of precious and gorgeous gold, silver, copper and pewter with a combination of dazzling gems and pearls. Pendants and earrings were also common in that period. Pendants of different sizes and shapes were composed of sparkling gemstones. Head pieces including; tiaras, crowns and head bands were made of pearls and other gorgeous gemstones.
Other than decorative value of this exquisite jewellery, these items also had complex meanings and connotations. Due to the strong meanings attached to them they became an essential part of the medieval language of signs. Rings were the most commonly worn articles. They were made from various metals like gold, silver, and bronze. Cheap metal alloys were also used to make rings for the lower classes.
The gems used in medieval articles were not cut until the 14th century, they were only polished. The enchanting jewels of medieval period included; brooches and clasps having heraldic motifs, like the 12th century Rhenish eagle-shaped gold fibula decorated with garnets. Belts were decorated with metal fittings and mounts and other clothing jewels included buttons that were used to decorate gowns and robes.
Further Reading:
===============
For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Medieval Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Medieval-Jewellery/
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