Can you imagine something 115,000 years old? Recent archaeological expeditions have dated some of the earliest ornamental relics as coming from our earliest civilizations on Earth. Discovered in South Africa, the crude necklaces involve shells strung along very simple fibrous threads.
These latest finds join the wealth of ancient jewelry found in all the worlds early cultures, from every part of the globe. Jewelry craftsmanship, it seems, is as universal as almost every other endeavor that led to the growth and expansion of the worlds civilizations. And the practice and refinement of jewelry making has continued without interruption, often in defiance of crushing circumstances around it, for the entirety of human history. Put another way, if diamonds are a girls best friend, the art and craft of jewelry-making is at least her oldest friend.
Jewelry doesnt always include silver, gold, or other precious metals.
Most people, when hearing the term jewelry, most likely immediately think of gold, silver, or precious stones. Nevertheless, most jewelry hasnt included such expensive components, using more commonplace materials to create items of great beauty.
Many modern jewelry craftsmen, borrowing from ancient as well as more contemporary technologies and techniques, are creating fascinating and alluring works original jewelry art using enamel and fused glass. These forms of jewelry are usually pendants and brooches, and necklaces, though there are several other forms also used from time to time.
Enamel and glass fused jewelry are some of the oldest jewelry forms.
Enamel and fused glass jewelry making are some of the worlds oldest forms of jewelry creation, dating at least as far back as the ancient Egyptian and Greek empires, centuries before the Common Era. At first a very simple process that required only basic materials (as well as a hot-burning kiln), the two artistic forms waxed and waned in popularity over the centuries.
Recently, however, with the advent of the independent culture movement as well as the resurgence of alternative spirituality studies throughout most of the Western World, handmade enamel and glass fused jewelry experienced a tremendous resurgence in popularity.
Modern handmade glass fused and enamel jewelry artisans incorporate modern technology into their creation processes, often using the finest natural and synthetic ingredients in a balance that retains the essence of traditional craftsmanship with the benefits of modern materials. The result is a finished product that holds timeless beauty even while remaining durable to last for years to come.
Jewelry moving into the future
Many jewelry market experts believe handmade jewelry will continue to grow as a trend, as recent shifts in aesthetics bring a new generation of consumers to appreciate the value of the handmade and permanent over the more routine satisfactions of the mass produced. As this trend continues, many jewelry customers including especially young people will have the opportunity to commission their own glass fused and handmade enamel jewelry for themselves, not from large companies but from smaller and more dedicated craftsman selling their works in locally-owned businesses as well as online.