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Jewellery facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
18th dynasty pharaonic crown by John Campana
An eighteenth dynasty of Ancient Egypt princess's crown
Clasp-reliquary eagle MNMA Cl3292
Bohemia, 14th century jewelled clasp with eagle motif
Andhra Pradesh Royal earrings 1st Century BCE
Royal earrings, India, 1st Century BC.

Jewellery (British English) or jewelry (American English) consists of small decorative items worn for personal adornment, such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, pendants, bracelets, and cufflinks. Jewellery may be attached to the body or the clothes, and the term is restricted to durable ornaments, excluding flowers for example.

For many centuries metal, often combined with gemstones, has been the normal material for jewellery, but other materials such as shells and other plant materials may be used. It is one of the oldest type of archaeological artefact – with 100,000-year-old beads made from Nassarius shells thought to be the oldest known jewellery.

The basic forms of jewellery vary between cultures but are often extremely long-lived; in European cultures the most common forms of jewellery listed above have persisted since ancient times, while other forms such as adornments for the nose or ankle, important in other cultures, are much less common.

Jewellery may be made from a wide range of materials. Gemstones and similar materials such as amber and coral, precious metals, beads, and shells have been widely used, and enamel has often been important.

In most cultures jewellery can be understood as a status symbol, for its material properties, its patterns, or for meaningful symbols. Jewellery has been made to adorn nearly every body part, from hairpins to toe rings. The patterns of wearing jewellery between the sexes, and by children and older people can vary greatly between cultures, but adult women have been the most consistent wearers of jewellery; in modern European culture the amount worn by adult males is relatively low compared with other cultures and other periods in European culture.

Form and function

Spanish jewellery-Gold and emerald pendant at VAM-01
Spanish emerald and gold pendant at Victoria and Albert Museum

Humans have used jewellery for a number of different reasons:

  • functional, generally to fix clothing or hair in place
  • as a marker of social status and personal status, as with a wedding ring
  • as a signifier of some form of affiliation, whether ethnic, religious or social
  • to provide talismanic protection (in the form of amulets)
  • as an artistic display
  • as a carrier or symbol of personal meaning – such as love, mourning, or even luck

Most cultures at some point have had a practice of keeping large amounts of wealth stored in the form of jewellery. Numerous cultures store wedding dowries in the form of jewellery or make jewellery as a means to store or display coins. Alternatively, jewellery has been used as a currency or trade good.

Many items of jewellery, such as brooches and buckles, originated as purely functional items, but evolved into decorative items as their functional requirement diminished.

Jewellery can also symbolise group membership (as in the case, of the Christian crucifix or the Jewish Star of David) or status (as in the case of chains of office, or the Western practice of married people wearing wedding rings).

Wearing of amulets and devotional medals to provide protection or ward off evil is common in some cultures. These may take the form of symbols (such as the ankh), stones, plants, animals, body parts (such as the Khamsa), or glyphs (such as stylised versions of the Throne Verse in Islamic art).

History

Intaille en améthyste
Roman Amethyst intaglio engraved gem, ~212 AD; later regarded as of St. Peter

The history of jewellery is long and goes back many years, with many different uses among different cultures. It has endured for thousands of years and has provided various insights into how ancient cultures worked.

Jewelry can be made from any material. The first jewelry was made from bone, animal teeth, wood or stone. Jewelry often uses gemstones and precious metals.

Fashion jewelry or costume jewelry is jewelry that is worn just for fashion, and is not made of expensive materials.

Common jewelry types

  • Earrings, which is any jewelry worn on the ears
  • Necklaces, worn aroung the neck
  • Finger rings and toe rings (finger rings are usually just called "ring")
  • Bracelets or bangles, worn on the wrists
  • Arm rings or armlets, worn on the upper arms
  • Pins or Brooches, worn on clothes for decoration or keeping clothes from undoing.
  • Piercings, which is jewelry that is put through holes in the skin

Images for kids

  • Horloge, zgn. ‘boule de Genève’, met Zwitserse ankergang, objectnr KA 3620

    A gold, diamonds and sapphires red guilloché enamel "Boule de Genève", a type of pendant watch used as an accessory for women. An example of an object which is functional, artistic/decorative, marker of social status or a symbol of personal meaning.

  • René lalique, pettine in corno, oro, smalti e brillanti, 1902 ca-V2

    Hair ornament, an Art Nouveau masterpiece; by René Lalique; circa 1902; gold, emeralds and diamonds; Musée d'Orsay (Paris)

  • Wedding and Engagement Rings 2151px

    A diamond solitaire engagement ring

  • A002

    An example of gold plated jewellery.

  • WLANL - petertf - Handje van Fatima

    Khmissa amulet in silver

  • Grave offerings

    Oldest golden artifacts in the world from Varna necropolis – grave offerings on exposition in Varna Museum

  • Headdress MET DP226592 (cropped)

    Headdress decorated with golden leaves; 2600–2400 BC; gold, lapis lazuli and carnelian; length: 38.5 cm; from the Royal Cemetery at Ur; Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City)

  • Archaeological museum, Athens (4976534238)

    Openwork hairnet; 300–200 BC; gold; diameter: 23 cm, diameter of the medallion: 11.4 cm; unknown provenance (said to be from Karpenissi (Greece)); National Archaeological Museum (Athens)

  • Louvre-Lens - L'Europe de Rubens - 026 - Le Grand Camée de France (Gemma Tiberiana), « L'Apothéose de Germanicus »

    The Great Cameo of France; second quarter of the 1st century AD; five-layered sardonyx; 31 x 26.5 cm; Cabinet des médailles (Paris)

  • Officina costantinopolitana, tesoro di asyut (egitto), V-VI sec ca. 01 collier

    Byzantine collier; late 6th–7th century; gold, emeralds, sapphires, amethysts and pearls; diameter: 23 cm; from a Constantinopolitan workshop; Antikensammlung Berlin (Berlin, Germany)

  • Cameo Claudius Cdm Paris Chab220

    Cameo; 16th century; sardonyx; Cabinet des Médailles (Paris)

  • Russia, 19th century - Earring - 1916.546.1 - Cleveland Museum of Art

    Russian earring; 19th century; silver, enamel and red glass beads; overall: 6.4 x 2.6 cm; Cleveland Museum of Art (Cleveland)

  • René lailique, pettorale con pavoni, oro, smalti, opali e diamanti, 1898-1900 ca

    Breastplate with a peacocks; René Lalique; circa 1898–1900; gold, enamels, opals and diamonds; Calouste Gulbenkian Museum (Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Necklace with Shiva's Family LACMA M.85.140

    Necklace with Shiva's family; late 19th century; gold inlaid with rubies, a diamond Rudraksha beads (elaeo carpus seeds) and silver back plate on clasp; overall: 38.1 cm; Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Los Angeles, US)

  • Ear Ornament, Winged Runner MET DP-10734-01

    Moche ear jewellery; 3rd–7th century; gold, turquoise, sodalite and shell; diameter: 8 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City)

  • Atsidi Sani

    Bai-De-Schluch-A-Ichin or Be-Ich-Schluck-Ich-In-Et-Tzuzzigi (Slender Silversmith) "Metal Beater," Navajo silversmith, photo by George Ben Wittick, 1883

  • Gold-jewellery-jewel-henry-designs-terabass

    Gold and gemstone contemporary jewellery design

  • Male hand with two rings operating computer mouse (cropped) (cropped)

    Male hand with modern silver rings, one with a tribal motive.

  • Shraddha Kapoor at IBJA awards and fashion showcase

    Indian actress Shraddha Kapoor showcasing modern Indian-style jewellery

  • Masonic jewels

    Types of masonic collar jewels

  • Karen Padaung Girl Portrait

    A Padaung girl in Northern Thailand

  • Kirkkokatu 19 Oulu 20210220

    The Oulun Koru jewellery shop at the Kirkkokatu street in Oulu, Finland

  • Egyptian - Finger Ring with a Representation of Ptah - Walters 42387 - View A

    Jasper

  • String of beads MET 99.4.54

    String of beads; 3650–3100 BC; lapis lazuli (the blue beads) and travertine (the white beads) (Egyptian alabaster); length: 4.5 cm; by Naqada II or Naqada III cultures; Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City)

  • String of beads MET 99.4.4 01-19-01

    String of beads; 3300–3100 BC; carnelian, garnet, quartz and glazed steatite; length: 20.5 cm; by Naqada III culture Metropolitan Museum of Art

  • GNM - Armberge

    Armlet with sun symbol; 16th-13th century BC (late Bronze Age); bronze; German National Museum (Nürnberg)

  • Carnelian jewellery from Saruq Al Hadid

    Necklace; probably 2600–1300 BC; carnelian, bone and stone; from Saruq Al Hadid (the United Arab Emirates)

  • Tutankhamun pendant with Wadjet

    Pectoral (chest jewellery) of Tutankhamun; 1336–1327 BC (Reign of Tutankhamun); gold, silver and meteoric glass; height: 14.9 cm (5.9 in); Egyptian Museum (Cairo)

  • Clevelandart 1989.39

    Pendant; circa 1069 BC; gold and turquoise; overall: 5.1 x 2.3 cm; Cleveland Museum of Art (Cleveland)

  • Anillo de Sheshonq (46627183381)

    Signet ring; 664–525 BC; gold; diameter: 3 × 3.4 cm; British Museum (London)

  • Pectoral and Necklace of Sithathoryunet with the Name of Senwosret II MET DT531

    Pectoral and necklace of Princess Sithathoriunet; 1887–1813 BC; gold, carnelian, lapis lazuli, turquoise, garnet & feldspar; height of the pectoral: 4.5 cm (1.8 in); Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City)

  • Necklace beads MET DP104225

    Sumerian necklace beads; 2600–2500 BC; gold and lapis lazuli; length: 54 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art

  • Necklace MET an33.35.47

    Necklace; 2600–2500 BC; gold and lapis lazuli; length: 22.5 cm; Royal Cemetery at Ur (Iraq); Metropolitan Museum of Art

  • Earrings from Shulgi

    Pair of earrings with cuneiform inscriptions, 2093–2046 BC; gold; Sulaymaniyah Museum (Sulaymaniyah, Iraq)

  • Reconstructed sumerian headgear necklaces british museum

    Sumerian necklaces and headgear discovered in the royal (and individual) graves of the Royal Cemetery at Ur, showing the way they may have been worn, in British Museum (London)

  • Bee pendant, gold ornament, Chrysolakos necropolis near Malia, 1800-1700 BC, AMH, 144879

    The Bee Pendant, an iconic Minoan jewel; 1700–1600 BC; gold; width: 4.6 cm; from Chrysolakkos (gold pit) complex at Malia; Archaeological Museum of Heraklion (Heraklion, Greece)

  • Gilt terracotta ornaments from a necklace MET DP145718

    Mycenaean necklace; 1400–1050 BC; gilded terracotta; diameter of the rosettes: 2.7 cm, with variations of circa 0.1 cm, length of the pendant 3.7 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City)

  • Gold ring set with an emerald MET DT283

    The Ganymede Jewellery; circa 300 BC; gold; various dimensions; provenance unknown (said to have been found near Thessaloniki (Greece)); Metropolitan Museum of Art

  • Set of jewelry MET DP122702

    The Vulci set of jewelry; early 5th century; gold, glass, rock crystal, agate and carnelian; various dimensions; Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City)

  • Earring in the form of a dolphin MET SF43119

    Earring in the form of a dolphin; 5th century BC; gold; 2.1 × 1.4 × 4.9 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art

  • Etruscan - Bulla with Daedalus and Icarus - Walters 57371 - Side A

    Bulla with Daedalus and Icarus; 5th century BC; gold; 1.6 × 1 × 1 cm; Walters Art Museum (Baltimore)

  • Earring MET sf9515205

    Earring; gold and silver; 1.5 × 0.4 × 1.4 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art

  • Sardonyx cameo portrait of the Emperor Augustus MET DP155547

    Cameo portrait of the Emperor Augustus; 41–54 AD; sardonyx; 3.7 × 2.9 × 0.8 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City)

  • Bracelet LACMA 50.22.2

    Bracelet; 1st–2nd century AD; gold-mounted crystal and sardonyx; length: 19.69 cm; Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Los Angeles)

  • Gold Necklace with Medallion Depicting a Goddess LACMA 50.22.20 (1 of 2)

    Necklace with a medallion depicting a goddess; 30–300; green glass (the green beads) and gold; length: 43.82 cm; Los Angeles County Museum of Art

  • Gold jewellery, head of Medusa, 200-300 AD, AM Agrigento, 120998

    Openwork hairnet with the head of Medusa; 200–300; gold; Archaeological Museum of Agrigento (Agrigento, Italy)

  • Fíbulas (24100425814)

    The Eagle-shaped fibulae of Alovera; 5th century; gold, bronze and glass (imitation of garnet); height: 11.8 cm, width: 5.9 cm; from Guadalajara (Spain); National Archaeological Museum (Madrid, Spain)

  • Sutton.Hoo.ShoulderClasp2.RobRoy

    Shoulder-clasps from Sutton Hoo; early 7th century; gold, glass & garnet; length: 12.7 cm; British Museum (London)

  • Temple Pendant with Two Birds Flanking a Tree of Life (front) and Geometric and Vegetal Motifs (back) MET sf17-190-684s1

    Front of a temple pendant with two birds flanking a tree of life; 11th–12th century; cloisonné enamel & gold; overall: 5.4 x 4.8 x 1.5 cm; made in Kyiv (Ukraine); Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City)

  • René lailique, pettorale libellula, in oro, smalti, crisoprazio, calcedonio, pietre lunari e diamanti, 1897-98 ca. 01

    The Dragonfly brooch; by René Lalique; circa 1897–1898; gold, vitreous enamel, chrysoprase, chalcedony, moonstone and diamond; height: 23 cm, width: 26.5 cm; Calouste Gulbenkian Museum (Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Necklace MET DT1423

    Necklace; by René Lalique; 1897–1899; gold, enamel, opals and amethysts; overall diameter: 24.1 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City)

  • René lailique, pettorale serpenti, oro e smalti, 1898-99 ca

    The Snakes brooch; by René Lalique; gold and enamel; Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

  • René lalique, pettine in corno, oro, smalti e brillanti, 1902 ca-V2

    Hair ornament, an Art Nouveau masterpiece; by René Lalique; circa 1902; gold, emeralds and diamonds; Musée d'Orsay (Paris)

  • Clevelandart 1985.75

    Fluted ring with a dragon head (huan); circa 475 BC; jade (nephrite); overall: 9.1 cm; Cleveland Museum of Art (Cleveland)

  • Jade ornament with grape design

    Ornament with flowers and grapes design; 1115–1234; jade; Shanghai Museum (China)

  • Chinese Xin Shape Jewelry from Ming Dynasty Tombs

    Xin 心 shaped jewelry; 1368–1644; gold, ruby, pearl and other gemstones; about the size of an adult human's palm; Dingling (Beijing, China)

  • MET 15 95 181j O1

    Hat ornament; 18th–19th century; gold, gilded metal, kingfisher feathers, glass and semiprecious stones; various dimensions; Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City)

  • Pendant with a Siddha(?) LACMA AC1999.239.1

    Pendant probably with Siddha; 8th–9th century; copper alloy; 8.89 x 7.93 x .31 cm; Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Los Angeles)

  • Clevelandart 1915.342.1

    Earring with Vishnu riding Garuda; circa 1600; gold set with jewels and semi-precious stones; overall: 2.6 cm; from Nepal; Cleveland Museum of Art (Cleveland)

  • Clevelandart 1915.346.1

    Earring with four-armed Vishnu riding Garuda with Nagas (serpent divinities); circa 1600; repousse gold with pearls; overall: 3.6 cm; from Nepal; Cleveland Museum of Art

  • Comb with Vishnu Adored by Serpents LACMA M.83.218.1

    Comb with Vishnu adored by serpents; 1750–1800; ivory with traces of paint; 6.99 x 7.94; from Nepal; Los Angeles County Museum of Art

  • Seated ruler in ritual pose, Highland Olmec culture, San Martin Texmelucan, Puebla state, Middle Formative period, c. 900-500 BC, serpentine, cinnabar - Dallas Museum of Art - DSC04572

    Olmec seated shaman in ritual pose-shaped pendant; 9th–5th century BC; serpentine and cinnabar; height: 18.5 cm; Dallas Museum of Art (Dallas, Texas)

  • Pair of Earflare Frontals MET DP101928

    Pair of Maya earflare frontals; 3rd–6th century; jade (jadeite); height: 5.1 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City)

  • Double Bat-Head Figure Pendant MET DT935

    Pendant with 2 bat-head warriors who carry spears; 11th–16th century; gold; overall: 7.62 cm (3 in.); from the Chiriqui Province (Panama); Metropolitan Museum of Art

  • Double headed turquoise serpentAztecbritish museum

    Double-headed serpent; 1450–1521; Spanish cedar wood (Cedrela odorata), turquoise, shell, traces of gilding & 2 resins are used as adhesive (pine resin and Bursera resin); height: 20.3 cm, width: 43.3 cm, depth: 5.9 cm; British Museum (London)

  • MAP Expo Maori Hei tiki 15 01 2012 2

    Māori hei-tiki; 1500–1800; jade (nephrite), abalone shell and pigments; from the New Zealand; Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac (Paris)

  • Pendanr (hei-tiki) LACMA M.71.73.156 (1 of 2)

    Hei-tiki; 18th century; nephrite and haliotis shell; 10.9 cm; from the New Zealand; Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Los Angeles)

  • Pendant MET DP140060

    Hawaiian pendant; 18th–19th century; whalebone; height: 6 cm, width, 3.8 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City)

See also

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