The History of Jewelry
Believe it or not, jewelry is our first and oldest form of self-expression. Beads carved from shells, made by early humans from 90,000 years ago were found around Skhul Cave on the slopes of Mount Carmel in Israel and in Oued Djebbana, Algeria. Paleontologists believe that our ancestors reserved jewelry for special occasions, and the privilege to wear them is only accorded to people that had a special function in society. Prehistoric jewelry were made with rare and beautiful materials such as gems like chlorite; a greenish type of stone, or bones from prized hunted animals, and then much later, with metal. These ancient jewelry are excellent findings for archaeologists and anthropologists as it gives us great insight on how early humans formed their society. The materials they worked with, along with the techniques they use, show their skill and craftsmanship, and the designs in their jewelry are evocative of what their culture was like.
In fact, we can even follow human history through jewelry. For instance, in early societies like in Mesopotamia, or Babylonians, the Egyptians, and Mayans, jewelry served as markers of status, and they also had ritualistic value. This was also the time of the Bronze and Copper ages, so artisans improved their metalwork through fabricating jewelry that served as amulets, talismans, ornaments, ceremonial pieces, and the gamut of the same things we see today such as bracelets, rings, necklaces, and such.
The Greco-Roman empire, where the surge for democracy first began, we see a liberation of sorts for jewelry. The people, and not just the rich, were able to afford jewelry through the creative use of unconventional materials such as powdered glass colored with metal oxides. These resulted in beautiful pieces that are surrounded with a raised rim made of gold, silver, or copper. You can own a piece of this history, Omani Jewelry is proud to offer our unique Roman Glass Jewelry collection, featuring pieces of original, centuries old, Roman glass, made into jewelry that is handmade in Israel.
Because of trade, the exchange of cultures, and the Age of Exploration, our perceptions for beauty changed. It became important for jewelry to be uniquely designed, as much as it is to have expensive gemstones, so there was a huge demand for artisan made jewelry for royal families. The medieval fashion was grand and ostentatious, but these blatant displays of wealth were a slap in the face for the struggling poor.
Vestiges of this mentality shaped our future aesthetic appreciation for refined elegance. We appreciate the art in intricate design, and we place a lot more value in how our jewelry fits with our personal style, rather than whether our jewelry is worth its weight in gold.
Because of how intuitive it is to wear jewelry as a form of self-expression, it is not hard to believe that despite centuries of progress, not much has changed, and we still place a huge cultural and personal significance towards jewelry.
In fact, we can even follow human history through jewelry. For instance, in early societies like in Mesopotamia, or Babylonians, the Egyptians, and Mayans, jewelry served as markers of status, and they also had ritualistic value. This was also the time of the Bronze and Copper ages, so artisans improved their metalwork through fabricating jewelry that served as amulets, talismans, ornaments, ceremonial pieces, and the gamut of the same things we see today such as bracelets, rings, necklaces, and such.
The Greco-Roman empire, where the surge for democracy first began, we see a liberation of sorts for jewelry. The people, and not just the rich, were able to afford jewelry through the creative use of unconventional materials such as powdered glass colored with metal oxides. These resulted in beautiful pieces that are surrounded with a raised rim made of gold, silver, or copper. You can own a piece of this history, Omani Jewelry is proud to offer our unique Roman Glass Jewelry collection, featuring pieces of original, centuries old, Roman glass, made into jewelry that is handmade in Israel.
Because of trade, the exchange of cultures, and the Age of Exploration, our perceptions for beauty changed. It became important for jewelry to be uniquely designed, as much as it is to have expensive gemstones, so there was a huge demand for artisan made jewelry for royal families. The medieval fashion was grand and ostentatious, but these blatant displays of wealth were a slap in the face for the struggling poor.
Vestiges of this mentality shaped our future aesthetic appreciation for refined elegance. We appreciate the art in intricate design, and we place a lot more value in how our jewelry fits with our personal style, rather than whether our jewelry is worth its weight in gold.
Because of how intuitive it is to wear jewelry as a form of self-expression, it is not hard to believe that despite centuries of progress, not much has changed, and we still place a huge cultural and personal significance towards jewelry.