Post by account_disabled on Mar 5, 2024 7:03:01 GMT
Jewelry has grown and evolved over the years. As you have seen, its use has increased from being an exclusive product of the wealthier classes to an element available to almost everyone. Its beginnings date back to prehistory where people already made decorative ornaments such as bracelets using the different metals they extracted from the earth as jewelry materials . Subsequently, this art developed, adding new elements such as precious stones and turning the first centuries of the Middle Ages into a time of great importance.
Jewelry became an element that provided status and showed the economic power of its wearer. Jewelry was worn by men , women and children regardless of race and religion. This made them elements that exuded power and a clear social status.To mark the latter, the Industry Email List different metals used in their production were used. The wealthiest families, such as royalty and nobles, used gold and the silver plating technique accompanied by precious stones. On the other hand, tin or copper was used and tinted crystals were integrated to generate a similarity to the stones.
Furthermore, all religions of the time had the belief that these types of elements protected or healed their wearer. This increased their popularity and caused them to be increasingly in demand. To make them there were specialized and highly prestigious artisans, the goldsmiths. To make the pieces, these artisans used to use gold and stones provided by their clients . Their virtues included patience and precision, as they carried out some of the most complex processes of the time without tools or accessories such as the jewelry tables that we all use today. To carry out the orders they used different techniques :
Embossing: This involves hollowing out the metal on the back of the piece to give it volume. Engraving: Thanks to the chisel, drawings or other elements were captured on the jewelry. Filigree: Using metal threads of different thicknesses, the piece was created. Granulated: Spheres, generally made of gold, were used to create the design on a flat sheet. Carving: The carvers worked with the precious stones with the aim of giving them shape and making the different colors stand out.
Angle cut: Brought in the 14th century from the East, this technique helped the stones obtain more shine and reflections. Thanks to the use of all these techniques , unique and high-quality jewelry could be obtained that was highly appreciated by buyers of the time. At this time, before the discovery of America, it was more difficult to obtain gold and silver. On many occasions, old pieces were reused as glasses or other elements, but there were also some mines such as those located in Nigeria and the Gold Coast . In addition, some regions of the peninsula still had mines, such as Murcia and Córdoba.
As for silver, it was somewhat more popular on the European continent. France, thanks to the mines of Melle, and Italy, with those of Sardinia, were the largest producers. But there were many more countries that had small mines. After the discovery of America, the availability of both metals grew abysmally thanks to the mines of the so-called New Continent. Its use became even more popular and allowed the sector to experience a time of great boom and importance.
The main material with which the jewelry of the time was made was the metals already mentioned, but precious stones were included. These allowed a greater variety of designs and increased the social status of the wearer. To reach their destination, these stones used to take a long journey. Sapphires and rubies were the most appreciated both for their beauty and for the kilometers they traveled from the East, creating their own route. Throughout it, merchants added other pieces such as turquoise from Persia or emeralds from Egypt. The assortment that came from that entire area was wide and its trade rivaled the well-known Silk Road .
Closer were amber (Baltic Sea), amethysts (Germany) or rock crystal (France and Germany). Another important element, especially for making necklaces, was pearls, which at this time were obtained in the rivers of Scotland. The designs followed certain fashions that changed over time. During the 11th century one of the most popular options were circular brooches . Later, the main protagonists would be the pendants and rings, especially those that had religious symbols. When the 15th century arrived, a new change occurred, with necklaces attached to clothing being the most in demand. In short, jewelry during the Middle Ages was a symbol of status, power and wealth .
Jewelry became an element that provided status and showed the economic power of its wearer. Jewelry was worn by men , women and children regardless of race and religion. This made them elements that exuded power and a clear social status.To mark the latter, the Industry Email List different metals used in their production were used. The wealthiest families, such as royalty and nobles, used gold and the silver plating technique accompanied by precious stones. On the other hand, tin or copper was used and tinted crystals were integrated to generate a similarity to the stones.
Furthermore, all religions of the time had the belief that these types of elements protected or healed their wearer. This increased their popularity and caused them to be increasingly in demand. To make them there were specialized and highly prestigious artisans, the goldsmiths. To make the pieces, these artisans used to use gold and stones provided by their clients . Their virtues included patience and precision, as they carried out some of the most complex processes of the time without tools or accessories such as the jewelry tables that we all use today. To carry out the orders they used different techniques :
Embossing: This involves hollowing out the metal on the back of the piece to give it volume. Engraving: Thanks to the chisel, drawings or other elements were captured on the jewelry. Filigree: Using metal threads of different thicknesses, the piece was created. Granulated: Spheres, generally made of gold, were used to create the design on a flat sheet. Carving: The carvers worked with the precious stones with the aim of giving them shape and making the different colors stand out.
Angle cut: Brought in the 14th century from the East, this technique helped the stones obtain more shine and reflections. Thanks to the use of all these techniques , unique and high-quality jewelry could be obtained that was highly appreciated by buyers of the time. At this time, before the discovery of America, it was more difficult to obtain gold and silver. On many occasions, old pieces were reused as glasses or other elements, but there were also some mines such as those located in Nigeria and the Gold Coast . In addition, some regions of the peninsula still had mines, such as Murcia and Córdoba.
As for silver, it was somewhat more popular on the European continent. France, thanks to the mines of Melle, and Italy, with those of Sardinia, were the largest producers. But there were many more countries that had small mines. After the discovery of America, the availability of both metals grew abysmally thanks to the mines of the so-called New Continent. Its use became even more popular and allowed the sector to experience a time of great boom and importance.
The main material with which the jewelry of the time was made was the metals already mentioned, but precious stones were included. These allowed a greater variety of designs and increased the social status of the wearer. To reach their destination, these stones used to take a long journey. Sapphires and rubies were the most appreciated both for their beauty and for the kilometers they traveled from the East, creating their own route. Throughout it, merchants added other pieces such as turquoise from Persia or emeralds from Egypt. The assortment that came from that entire area was wide and its trade rivaled the well-known Silk Road .
Closer were amber (Baltic Sea), amethysts (Germany) or rock crystal (France and Germany). Another important element, especially for making necklaces, was pearls, which at this time were obtained in the rivers of Scotland. The designs followed certain fashions that changed over time. During the 11th century one of the most popular options were circular brooches . Later, the main protagonists would be the pendants and rings, especially those that had religious symbols. When the 15th century arrived, a new change occurred, with necklaces attached to clothing being the most in demand. In short, jewelry during the Middle Ages was a symbol of status, power and wealth .
