Jewelrymaking Through History

Handicrafts or handmade items reveal much about the person and culture that created them. By studying the materials, techniques, tools, and patterns, we can tell with reasonable accuracy the time in history that an object was produced, the location and the culture or tribe that created it, and in most cases, the purpose of the object, whether for everyday, ceremonial, or decorative use. Future titles in this new series will examine the crafts of Quilting, Weaving, Pottery, and Metalwork, identifying the history and development of each craft through time, and the tools, techniques, and people who have made their contributions. In this volume, approximately 75 entries spanning ancient times to the present describe the people, places, terms, and tools involved in the history of jewelry making. Readers will learn how the economic, geographic, political, religious, and social circumstances of a place and time influence the materials used in the creation of jewelry, the signs and symbols employed in its design, and the manner in which it is worn. The entries include: Amulets; Art Deco; Mourning jewelry; Roman Empire; Victorian jewelry; Chinese jewelry; Gold; Peridots; Tiffany; and more.