Handmade Jewelry: How Handmade Jewelry Has Impacted Fashion and Society!

Handmade Jewelry: How Handmade Jewelry Has Impacted Fashion and Society!

Whether you are a history buff or simply seeing handmade beaded jewelry worn by your favorite actresses, it is hard to look at the jewelry from the past and not take a look at the handmade jewelry that was worn then. While some of these pieces look unbearably clunky and old fashioned now, some would look right at home on today's top fashion catwalks and expos. Jewelry, in all of its forms, has had a strong effect on the world and the fashions that were based off of it.

Early in history, jewelry was a mark of status of some sort. Perhaps the only people who could wear it were of religious importance, or perhaps they were the only people who could afford it. You'll find that even though the handmade beaded jewelry from early eras seems primitive to our eyes that it was still crafted with care. For instance, the twisted torques, close fitting necklaces that were worn by the Celts, was often a sign of both manhood and wealth.

Later on, jewelry was a mark of privilege and leisure; it was a show that not only could you afford to feed yourself and your loved ones, but that you could spend a lot of extra money on beautiful things. For instance, in many parts of Europe, there were sumptuary laws that forbid people of a certain class from wearing things that were too extravagant, whether that was cloth, jewelry or special leathers. Often though, people would ignore these rules and the fact that they had to pay a fine was also seen as a mark of status and wealth!

During the Victorian age in Europe, handmade jewelry started taking the shapes that would be very familiar to those of us who wear jewelry today. The Victorian era had a very strong interest in death and funerary arts, though, and this was often eerily represented in so-called mourning jewelry, where people would snip hair from their departed loved ones and weave it into lockets, broaches and rings. Sometimes this jewelry would get very elaborate and it could be quite beautiful, especially when different shades of hair were used.

The beginning of the twentieth century saw the beginning of costume jewelry. Costume jewelry, far from being as cheap or as disposable as the name implies, was actually meant to be jewelry that complemented one particular outfit. Various precious metals and gems could -and often did!- go into the production of costume jewelry.

Today, we are experiencing a real renaissance as far as jewelry goes, and whether you love fine handmade jewelry or simply love adorning yourself with something new every day, take a look and see what sort of impact the right piece of jewelry can have on you!

POST COMMENT

Handmade Jewelry: Choosing Your Most Complimentary Custom Jewelry Handmade Jewelry - Unique Handmade Jewelry Timeless Treasures Wonderfully Unique Jewelry Pieces Make Great Gifts Express Your Affection With Diamond Jewelry Gifts Review of Babette Wasserman Jewellery Diamond Engagement Rings-How to Find Wonderful and Perfect Ring for Your Spouse The Toughest Cutter on Earth- Diamond Saw Blade Semi-precious Gemstones: Quartz and Jade Queensland Tender for Gold Coast Rapid Transit Project Taking Care of Your Jewelry Indian Gold Jewellery Excellent Task In Generating A Jewelry Manufacturer-Tiffany Impressive Task In Building A Jewelry Brand Name-Tiffany