Jewelry, bijouterie or fashion jewelry - how did it all begin

 Have you ever wondered how decorating our bodies with trinkets, opal bracelets, began? Did the ancients see a nice seashell or rock and decide it would look good hanging from a string or perhaps a thin vine around the neck? Or maybe they decided to put this on their wrist. Did the women see an unusual bone fragment and decide that it would look good if she kept her hair out of her face? How did anyone decide which pieces of rock, metal, bone, or shell were valuable enough to be used as trading currency? I just started researching my questions and I don't have answers yet. I found common previously reported jewelry ideas to share. As I begin my quest, I can see there will be many more questions and I can't wait to find the answers.

 

Australia opal consists of decorative items worn as adornment, such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. For many centuries metal, often combined with precious stones [I call them pretty stones], was the normal material for jewelry, but other materials such as shells. Think of dried plant seeds and even animal bones or even bird feathers. Precious stones [pretty stones] and similar materials such as amber, coral, precious metals, beads and shells were used. One of my favorites, Enamel, was often important.

 

The basic forms of fire opal necklace vary between cultures; in European cultures, the most common forms of jewelry have persisted since ancient times, while other forms, such as nose or ankle ornaments, important in other cultures, are much less common.

 

Jewelry can be a status symbol for its material properties, designs, or for meaningful symbols. A jewel in the form of a pineapple symbolizes that you are hospitable. Heart shape shows love. Amber, bloodstone, garnet opal and ruby ​​are said to symbolize fire. The meanings and symbols of jewelry shapes [animal, flower, stars, etc.] will be the subject of a future article.

 

Jewelry was made to adorn almost every part of the body, from hairpins to toe rings and even genital jewelry. Jewelery wearing patterns between genders, children and the elderly can vary greatly between cultures. Another topic for research.