How Jewellery Speaks to a Culture

Whilst the word 'jewellery' may initially conjure up a rather simplistic idea of something 'pretty' or of personal value, the history of such precious items is a long and varied one, providing insights into how a culture works, what it values, and how it chooses to express itself. Cultural tastes and methods of production play a large part in what form a period's jewellery may take, second only to the materials available at the time, and technological limitations.

Expressing one's individuality is one of our most human characteristics, but it may nevertheless be surprising to discover that the oldest known jewellery - beads made from Nassarius snail shells - are thought to be almost 100,000 years old. These dainty charms provide our first clue to a desire for personal expression and delicate taste, with the trend for decorative animal shells continuing for centuries; a collection of perforated ostrich egg shells in Kenya have been dated back to 40,000 years ago. Crude designs formed from the remains of animals may point to a pride in the hunt - it playing such a large part in primitive society at that time.

As technology and culture advanced, so too did the form which established jewellery took, with the Egyptians being the first people to see the value and malleability of gold as a decorative material over other metals. Items from this period tended to draw explicitly from the religious figures of the time, with pendants based upon common interpretations of the Egyptian gods. This trend is arguably one of the most enduring design traits of precious jewellery - one need only look at how much value the Catholics placed in sumptuous colour and rich materials to see this intrinsic link between spiritual worship and visual beauty.

The idea of commemorating an ideal or cultural value through jewellery has continued in a broader form, despite changes in public attitude and taste. Of particular note is the shift in design styles in the 20th century, drawing upon the mass production techniques that were proving so successful elsewhere. High quality jewellery could thus be duplicated easily, with multiple variations of a single idea allowing for new styles to emerge. In light of this technological drive, it should come as no surprise that, aesthetically, much of today' popular jewellery plays upon nostalgic values that speak to society on a very broad level. Charming collections thus emerge that play with wider public ideals whilst allowing the wearer to bring their own individuality to the table. Today, collections such as the Links of London 2012 range play on images such as the London Red Bus and the Olympic Games, offering stylish items that appeal to a wide demographic. In time, such items will no doubt play their own part in the relationship between jewellery and cultural history.

Tom Dunn writes on behalf of the Jewel Hut. Popular for its range of Links of London jewellery, the Jewel Hut has an extensive choice of silver and diamond items for any occasion. Visit for news and info on the latest jewellery trends. http://www.thejewelhut.co.uk/

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