Asia Antique
The Elegance of Antique Jewelry
The title should in fact be extended further than this: The Elegance of Symbol in Antique Jewelry.
Of all the properties, be it aesthetics or material value, that people, since the dawn of time, have invested in jewelry, the symbol of power is the most important.
Only very few could afford to be adorned with jewelry, so this extravagance is concentrated in upper classes of the civilizations we know. This can be documented from the finds in graves whether they date back to the Bronze Age (2.500 B.C.) or the Middle Ages. Rich graves are better preserved and gold, silver and gems better survive through centuries than leather, wood, textiles, bone, etc. which common people could afford.
All levels of classes are involved in producing jewelry, from the workers in the mines to the jewellers and goldsmiths. We find this to be true whether we talk about the Antiquity or the present.
But also poets, musicians, healers, astronomers, astrologers, painters and philosophers have illustrated the beauty and meaning of gems and jewelry and this narration of culture are shared by all members of society.
These different descriptions and approaches also share the immanent and common purpose that culture invests in meaning: to identify and legitimise power and class differences. Jewelry is always used to signal power, distance, control, prestige, status and place in hierarchy.
Most cultures combine different gems and metals with different level of status, hierarchy, medicine, stars, destiny and the likes.
Symbolic meaning and jewelry also associates power with the beauty, value and magic. Even if each culture intermix and exchange ideas, their cultural representation and different traditions, religion and way of control can be identified through the study of jewelry.
It is the elegance of this symbolic distribution throughout societies, which contribute to the maintenance of hierarchy as culture. As long as all members of a culture love songs and stories about the beauty and bliss of jewelry, they play a role in making symbolic meaning narrated in a meaningful way. Hereby binding together culture, history and hierarchy.
Mountains and gems, find perfection from transparency and beautiful colors. To them belongs the precious stones we so desire: carnelian, jasper, emerald and similar gems. There should be nothing and more beautiful than these”. Plato, Phaedo c. 400 BC.
Plato (427- 347 BC) used precious stones in his dialogue Phaedo to illustrate the future paradise where the soul – freed from the body – exists without disfigurement or disease. He also used gems to illustrate the stars, animals and plants. He believed in his mentor Socrates, when making the use of images of flawless jasper, carnelian and emeralds to render notions of spiritual bliss.
Aristotle (384 – 322 BC) wrote about the power and effect of precious stones and similarly, Theophrastos (370 – 287 BC), a pupil of Aristotle, informed his readers that like Plato, he especially valued emeralds: Some of the stones, for example, jasper and lapis lazuli, are unusual in their appearance, but in addition to its beauty, the emerald most certainly possesses magical powers”.
Antique Jewelry was invested with bliss or magical and healing powers and in the same time they signified status and place in hierarchy. The slave based and stratified societies in the Antique world surely used gold and gems to legitimise dominance, control and exploitation by elegantly referring to the aesthetics and poetic value of gems and workmanship as well as the magical powers embedded in the stones.
The nobles demonstrated status and wealth openly as if it were the most natural thing of the world. In his History of Asia and Europe (c. 130 BC), the Greek historian and geographer Agatharchides of Cnidos writes about the noble residents of Sheba and Gerrha: The furnishings of their houses were made of silver, gold, ivory and precious stones”.
Historical jewelry is thus an interesting subject of study as it helps identifying different cultures and traditions.
The title should in fact be extended further than this: The Elegance of Symbol in Antique Jewelry.
Of all the properties, be it aesthetics or material value, that people, since the dawn of time, have invested in jewelry, the symbol of power is the most important.
Only very few could afford to be adorned with jewelry, so this extravagance is concentrated in upper classes of the civilizations we know. This can be documented from the finds in graves whether they date back to the Bronze Age (2.500 B.C.) or the Middle Ages. Rich graves are better preserved and gold, silver and gems better survive through centuries than leather, wood, textiles, bone, etc. which common people could afford.
All levels of classes are involved in producing jewelry, from the workers in the mines to the jewellers and goldsmiths. We find this to be true whether we talk about the Antiquity or the present.
But also poets, musicians, healers, astronomers, astrologers, painters and philosophers have illustrated the beauty and meaning of gems and jewelry and this narration of culture are shared by all members of society.
These different descriptions and approaches also share the immanent and common purpose that culture invests in meaning: to identify and legitimise power and class differences. Jewelry is always used to signal power, distance, control, prestige, status and place in hierarchy.
Most cultures combine different gems and metals with different level of status, hierarchy, medicine, stars, destiny and the likes.
Symbolic meaning and jewelry also associates power with the beauty, value and magic. Even if each culture intermix and exchange ideas, their cultural representation and different traditions, religion and way of control can be identified through the study of jewelry.
It is the elegance of this symbolic distribution throughout societies, which contribute to the maintenance of hierarchy as culture. As long as all members of a culture love songs and stories about the beauty and bliss of jewelry, they play a role in making symbolic meaning narrated in a meaningful way. Hereby binding together culture, history and hierarchy.
Mountains and gems, find perfection from transparency and beautiful colors. To them belongs the precious stones we so desire: carnelian, jasper, emerald and similar gems. There should be nothing and more beautiful than these”. Plato, Phaedo c. 400 BC.
Plato (427- 347 BC) used precious stones in his dialogue Phaedo to illustrate the future paradise where the soul – freed from the body – exists without disfigurement or disease. He also used gems to illustrate the stars, animals and plants. He believed in his mentor Socrates, when making the use of images of flawless jasper, carnelian and emeralds to render notions of spiritual bliss.
Aristotle (384 – 322 BC) wrote about the power and effect of precious stones and similarly, Theophrastos (370 – 287 BC), a pupil of Aristotle, informed his readers that like Plato, he especially valued emeralds: Some of the stones, for example, jasper and lapis lazuli, are unusual in their appearance, but in addition to its beauty, the emerald most certainly possesses magical powers”.
Antique Jewelry was invested with bliss or magical and healing powers and in the same time they signified status and place in hierarchy. The slave based and stratified societies in the Antique world surely used gold and gems to legitimise dominance, control and exploitation by elegantly referring to the aesthetics and poetic value of gems and workmanship as well as the magical powers embedded in the stones.
The nobles demonstrated status and wealth openly as if it were the most natural thing of the world. In his History of Asia and Europe (c. 130 BC), the Greek historian and geographer Agatharchides of Cnidos writes about the noble residents of Sheba and Gerrha: The furnishings of their houses were made of silver, gold, ivory and precious stones”.
Historical jewelry is thus an interesting subject of study as it helps identifying different cultures and traditions.
About the Author
I webmaster of http://www.museumjewellery.com/default.asp?lang=uk. We deal in all types Jewellery, Historical Jewellery,Antique Jewelry, Antique Necklaces, Antique Pendants, Egyptian jewelry,Viking Jewelry,Russian jewelry,Celtic jewelry,French jewelry, Victorian Jewelry, African jewelry at very affordable price.
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1920 Original Antique MAP PHYSICAL MAP ASIA Mongolian Arabian Tibet Plateau $0.59 |
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Antique 14k Jade Coral Ring Asia China 4.7g size 7 not scrap $1.25 |
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Chambers Gellatly Antique Map 1855 Asia Chinese Empire Persia Arabia Japan $38.35 |
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Waldseemuller Antique Map C1903 Africa Asia India Wieser Fischer $68.48 |
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Antique Map C1870 Asia Moukden Peking China St. Petersburg Stockholm $43.83 |
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Literatures of Asia: From Antiquity to the Present (… $24.95 |
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1818 ASIA Korea Orient Asian Voyage EXPLORATION Rare Old Antique Leather Book $575.00 |
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Early 1796 Engraved Map of Asia Amos Doolittle of Boston MA NO RESERVE Antique $19.99 |
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Johnston Antique Map 1898 Russia Asia Chinese Empire Corea Japan Formosa $26.02 |
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Lowry Antique Map 1853 Bosphorus Dardanelles Asia Minor Turkey $46.57 |
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Lowry Antique Map 1853 Asia China Japan Australia New Zealand $46.57 |
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Cassell Antique Map 1920 Philippine Borneo China Japan Asia Arabia Sumatra $38.35 |
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Lowry Antique Map 1853 South Asia Arabia Beloochistan Arabian Sea $46.57 |
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Antique Vtg old Metal ? Brass? with Copper & Buckle Asia handicraft NR $19.99 |
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ASIA-ASIE-ASIEN-ASIA-JEWELRY. ANTIQUE PRINT DIDOT ET CIE 1860 $65.00 |
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Antique Map-Print-ASIA-INDIA-BIRMA-SRI LANKA-ARCHITECTURE-ORNAMENT-Larousse-1897 $47.50 |
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Antique Map-Print-ASIA-COSTUME-PEOPLE-NATURE-Larousse-1897 $47.50 |
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ANTIQUE PRINT- VIEW – ASCALON – PALESTINE – ASIA – 1847 $19.90 |
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39 Antique Maps 1860s-1900s Europe South America Africa US Asia NR $29.95 |
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Rare Antique Hand Made Silver Metal Asia Middle East Decorated Water Pitcher Pot $24.99 |
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Antique Early 19th C English Reverse Glass Transfer Painting Europe & Asia Trade $499.99 |
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ASIA ANTIQUE MAP 1947 ATLAS PRINT 13 X 20 $9.99 |
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1903 Woodcut Antique Sketch Map Syria Cities Western Asia Cartography Geology $71.95 |
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Asia Burma Buddhism Phoongye Priest Soldiers Religion Scene 1867 Antique Print $0.99 |
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1857 Steel Engraving Antique Map Kuro Siwo Japan Asia Archipelago Cartography $137.95 |
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1894 ASIA GEOGRAPHICAL Antique MAP Lithograph Wall Art Print $8.49 |
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1894 ASIA MINOR Antique MAP Lithograph Wall Art Print $8.49 |
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1894 CENTRAL ASIA TIBET AFGHANISTAN Antique MAP Lithograph Wall Art Print $8.49 |
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Asia Thailand Siam Different View Street Costumes Landscape1893 Antique Print $0.99 |
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1894 SAGO PALMS SOUTH ASIA Antique Chromolithograph Print E.Heyn $0.99 |
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1919 Original Antique MAP EASTERN ASIA Siam China / Northern France Dated $0.79 |
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STUNNING ANTIQUE CENTRAL ASIA UZBEK^EMBROIDERY SUZANI CUSHION 18″X27″{45cmX68cm} $61.90 |
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ANTIQUE Ca 17th Century BEAUTIFUL BASALT STONE BUDDHA HEAD SCULPTURE STATUE Asia $299.90 |
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Antique area rug from East Asia in blue, rust, beige 2′ x 3′ +fringe $79.99 |
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Asia Antique Wrought Iron Ax / Carved Handle.Philippine,Indonesian? Tool Hatchet $9.90 |
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Antique Asia Ceramic Tobacco Pipe $34.99 |
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ANTIQUE “LERSI” ,THE HEAD OF HERMITS , ASIA AMULET COLLECTION , RARE $99.99 |
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ANTIQUE MAP OF ASIA & NEW HOLLAND (AUSTRALIA) CIRCA 1800 ~ EX COOKE’S GEOGRAPHY $1.60 |
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Vietnam Vintage Southeast Asia Antiques book $29.95 |
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ANTIQUE ASIA SIAM STERLING SILVER REPOUSSE ELEPHANT FOOTED BOWL DISH TRAY 12.6oz $1,200.00 |
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Turkey in Asia and Persia,de Vaugondy,Lamarche,1785,original antique map $93.00 |
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SHELLFISH SEAFOOD CONCHOLOGY JAPAN ASIA RARE ANTIQUE ART PRINT LITHOGRAPH 1850s $32.00 |
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ASIA JAPANESE SHELLS CONCHOLOGY SEAFOOD SUSHI ANTIQUE ART PRINT LITHOGRAPH 1850s $32.00 |
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JAPAN BIRD ASIA GARRULAX – HAND TINTED RARE ANTIQUE ART PRINT LITHOGRAPH 1850s $28.00 |
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JAPANESE FOX ASIA PERRY EXPEDITION WILDLIFE ANTIQUE ART PRINT LITHOGRAPH 1850s $20.00 |
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ASIA JAPON MALACCA CHINA INDIA ORIGINAL ANTIQUE MAP G. HECK 1842 $115.00 |
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Asia and Islands titled Asie Old antique map by Vaugondy 1750 $85.00 |
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1840 antique Plan sphere World map Asia America Africa $85.00 |
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Chinese Qing Dynasty Famille rose plate Porcelain ASIA China Japanese Antique $57.00 |
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Antique Photo Reprint of Mount Pagus Smyrna Harbour, Turkey in Asia Minor $9.99 |
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IDZU PRINCE SWORDS 1850s ~ JAPAN ASIA ANTIQUE ART PRINT $16.00 |
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ANTIQUE MAP – ASIA – Giraldon – Bovinet – 1835 $39.99 |
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ASIA STAMPS GREAT RARE ASIAN ANTIQUE STAMPS $35.00 |
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1913 Antique Map/MAJOR EXPLORATIONS TO ASIA $18.95 |
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1903 2 Vols Yule MARCO POLO Asia CHINA Rare Antique Leather Books Book Set Ed $925.00 |
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ANTIQUE MAP RUSSIA IN ASIA by WYLD / HEWITT c1820′s VIEW KAMTSCHATKA DOG SLEDGE $24.15 |
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1913 Antique Book Plate Print/WESTERN ASIA $6.95 |
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Antique 1845 Map Alexander Expedition Europe Asia View History Harper Brothers $49.90 |
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Antique Map-RUSSIA-ASIA-JAPAN-Homann Heirs-1759 $79.99 |
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Antique Maps Asia Philippine Islands India Arabia 1898 $25.46 |
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ANTIQUE BRASS ELEPHANT PENDANT AMULET 43 MM LONG 22 GRAMS FROM THAILAND ASIA $17.99 |
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FINE ANTIQUE 1875 WORLD HANDCOLORED MAP ASIA AUSTRALIA MARITIME UNITED STATES $24.99 |
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TATSNOSKI JAPAN JAPANESE ASIA ASIAN – ANTIQUE ART PRINT $16.00 |
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#780 VTG BRASS MEDICINE BUDDHA SE ASIA HUGE ESTATE ANTIQUE BEAUTIFUL FACE EX W $1,895.00 |
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3 ANTIQUE Real Photo PC Singapore Harbor Scene 1920s Southeast Asia $10.00 |
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ANTIQUE VINTAGE ASIAN ASIA JADE EARRINGS 1930′S DROP DANGLE SWAG ART DECO ERA $20.50 |
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Antique sword Southeast Asia gold inlay bird handle $800.00 |
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ASIA authentic Antique Copper-plate Map by Mitchell 131 years old 1881 $22.95 |
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ANTIQUE VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE 8869 LICENSE PLATE CHONBURI THAILAND SOUTHEAST ASIA $9.99 |
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ASIA MAP, INDIA, RAILWAY MAP, ANTIQUE ORIGINAL c.1920 $24.15 |
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ANTIQUE UZBEK TRIBAL NEEDLEWORK EMBROIDERY SCARF CENTRAL ASIA BELLY DANCE 35411 $37.50 |
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Antique Map of Asia $74.99 Antique Map of Asia – Giclee Print |
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Map of Asia $34.99 Map of Asia – Giclee Print |
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