Antique Jewellery / Antique jewelry
To know something about antique jewelry or antique jewellery one really has to dig into many (often complex) factors. Although we do not intend here to delve into matters in depth, the next chapters give a good idea on antique jewelry and what it's all about.
Antique jewellery is jewellery that has reached an age of 100 years or more and that makes it a witness of human history. It is in generally used for previously owned jewellery and for jewellery made in earlier (style-)periods and not necessarily pre-worn jewellery. It is not a dequalifying designation as many pieces of antique jewellery typically feature fine workmanship and high quality gemstones, as well as one-of-a-kind items. Antique jewellery includes many decades or eras. Each of them has many different designs. These periods include Georgian, Early Victorian, Mid-Victorian, Late Victorian, Arts and Crafts era, Art Nouveau, Edwardian, Art Deco and Retro.
The following is a recap of the most interesting antique jewellery subjects:(Click the title to read more on the specific antique jewellery related subject)
Antique jewellery and its function:
Jewelry are objects, whatever material they are made of, that we use to ornament ourselves. Whether put, pierced through, or hung on our body, their function is to show or pretend our status. It is obvious that ...
Materials used in and for antique jewellery:
What materials do we use to look prettier? 'Metals' is the obvious (though not exclusive) answer. These we can divide into: precious metals (gold jewelry, platinum jewelry, silver jewelry), non-precious metals ...
Alloys used in and for antique jewellery:
What is an alloy and what can you achieve by influencing it? Which alloy is better and which worse. Is it worth more or less etc.? An alloy is a mixture of metals, which for jewellery has to contain ...
Combination of metals used for antique jewellery:
The use of the different metals together isn't arbitrary, or at least not originally. About 2-300 years ago it was common for diamonds to be set in silver. Jewellers of that time believed that only a silver mounting ...
Reasons for wearing antique jewellery now and in the past:
Jewellery is often created for a special occasion or reason to show that the wearer follows a certain sport, belongs to a certain club i.e. freemasonry, to a certain part, in memoriam etc. Or a special happening ...
Laws and regulations concerning antique jewellery:
Around 1800 Napoleon abolished the guilds and left the regulations of gold and silverware to the legislator. But what was the role of the guilds? The guilds guaranteed the integrity of the concerned trades ...
Hallmarks to be found on antique jewellery:
There are many (hall-)marks to be found in antique jewellery. Some 19 sorts in all. The chance of finding them struck all together in one piece is non-existing. Normally there will be between two and five ...
Designs of antique jewellery:
Over the years it was royalty who commissioned and set trends for the fashion. Obediently followed by the nobility and bourgeoisie. The church too was a very important commissioner, although more ...
Antique jewellery devided into style periods:
In this chapter on antique jewellery you will find an overview that shows the various antique jewellery styles and their names in the different countries over the ages ...
- pre-victorian jewellery:
- victorian jewellery: Articles of jewelry, which were made during the reign of Queen Victoria, are generally classified as Victorian jewelry. The pieces include brooches and link bracelets, made of gold and decorated with enamel, and inexpensive gemstones, (often garnets). A lot of coral, tortoise shell ivory and seed pearls where used. Fans, hair jewelry, and other sentimental types of jewelry was popular
- Art Nouveau jewellery: The art nouveau age came as a revolt to the previous era of mass-produced goods. It featured free-flowing, curving lines. Floral ornaments and botanical designs are very typical as well as butterflies, dragons and female faces. The art nouveau age came to an end with the outbreak of world war one. Opals, and moonstone was popular and used in pendants, necklaces, and hair ornaments. For more on art nouveau.
- Edwardian jewellery: These jewels were popular for a very short time, during the reign or King Edward the 7th. This type of jewelry is generously decorated with gemstones, and diamonds. The gems were often set into very thin settings, and used in tiaras, necklaces, and earrings.
- Art Deco Jewellery: Art deco originated in France, as a protest to the art nouveau style. It was disregarded in its early period, but had a strong revival in the 1960's and 1970's. Its abstract designs and geometric patterns categorize the style, which also features very defined outlines, and bold colors. For more on Art Deco.
- Retro jewellery: Retro is a recent specification for the period in the forties when large scale, stylized geometric forms, drapes, bows or ribbons were all the rage. Pink gold jewelry, set with colored gemstones, sometimes in floral forms was very common.
Fakes and counterfeits in antique jewellery:
Not everything known as fake is actually a counterfeit. There are many kinds that have an intrinsic value of their own. Take the original Russian silver object that may have a false Fabergé mark ...