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Ethnic Jewelry

Ageless Decorative Art

We grow more aware of global culture everyday. One of the best ways to learn more about other societies and cultures to to collect the artifacts they make.

Throughout history, jewelry has played an important social and even ritual role across societies and cultures.

This is a brief explanation of the symbolism of jewelry in three ancient cultures - Egypt, Africa and South America.

Egypt

Ancient Egyptians were extremely particular about their jewelry. Each piece was carefully crafted to portray a precise meaning.

Religious symbols were especially popular, and none more so than the scarab, which was considered to be a symbol of rebirth.

These symbols were generally intricately carved into the jewelry item.

Although the Egyptians had access to many precious gemstones, these were rarely used.

A notable exception was Queen Cleopatra's proclivity for emeralds. In general, however, Egyptians preferred to work with colored glass, whose color they could precisely control.

Each color had a definite meaning, such as green for fertility and red for the deceased, who were believed to owe a blood debt to Isis. The debt could be paid via the red necklace that was buried with the deceased.

Many Egyptian jewelry pieces have been lost forever to grave robbers. However, those pieces that have survived include the entire collection that was buried alongside King Tutankhamen, the boy king. The value of Egyptian jewelry can vary widely depending on the age, rarity and quality of a particular piece.

Africa

Throughout Africa's history, jewelry has played an important ceremonial role.

Body adornment is used to convey status, from warrior to married woman to adolescent.

Beads, feathers and shells are commonly used materials in both ceremonial and personal jewelry items.

Some tribes perform body modification such as lip plates and piercings, while others prefer only non-permanent jewelry items. Regardless, African jewelry is bright, colorful and full of social, religious and ceremonial significance.

African jewelry is highly prized by many collectors due to its beauty and exquisite craftsmanship. Prices are often high on the resale market.

South America

During the early Mayan empire, there was little access to gold and other precious metals, so most jewelry was made of bone and stone.

As the empire developed, however, the Mayans became extremely proficient at jewelry making. By the height of the Mayan empire, jewelry had become quite ornate, often crafted in gold, silver or bronze and featuring jade and other gemstones.

The Aztecs also enjoyed highly detailed jewelry, often crafted in gold and adorned with feathers or other embellishments.

Both the Mayans and the Aztecs saw jewelry primarily as a status symbol.

Only the wealthy generally wore expensive pieces such as gold.

Gemstones were also used in sacrifices as a gift to the gods. For example, ritual daggers often featured jewel encrusted handles.

Jewelry has played an important role in human society since prehistoric times. Depending on the culture, jewelry conveyed social standing, wealth, religious belief and many other aspects of the wearer's personality.

Today, antique jewelry is highly prized for its beauty, quality and historic significance.

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