Medieval To Baroque
Following the fall of the Roman Empire, the Middle Ages settle upon Western Civilization. During this period, the Germanic tribes imitate earlier Roman styles, the Byzantine Era is punctuated by colorful gems and enamels. Religious stylings dominate the Romanesque period, becoming more intricate and somewhat more secular during the Gothic Period. Enlightened splendor dominates the emergence of the Renaissance Period. Explore our ancestral inspirations through the Medieval to Baroque pictorial glossary below.
Historic Overview
The ‘Middle Ages’ is a term that has been used to classify the period of European history which starts after the crumbling of the (Western) Roman Empire and ends at...
During the Migration period (5th century AD) Germanic tribes settled throughout Europe. Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Vandals, Angles, Saxons, Franks, Lombards and many more tribes that had been living on the eastern...
Byzantine jewelry was a full continuation of the Roman traditions which were kept alive behind the high walls of the new capital, Constantinople. The Roman techniques and styles continued to form the...
The style which followed the influence of Byzantine architecture and arts on the rest of Europe is called the Romanesque style. It became widespread in Northern Europe when Charlemagne (Charles...
After Romanesque jewelry fell from fashion a new style emerged. Although parallels with the architectural style are minimal the style has been named Gothic. The architectural style already rose in the...
Halfway through the 15th century general art styles changed in Italy. Artists started to draw inspiration from the Ancient Greek and Roman world. Funded by the royal families from extremely...
With the start of the 17th century, Renaissance jewelry evolved gradually into a new style. From 1625 on, we see a clear reaction against the rigid and contorted dresses that had been...
Vignettes
Diamonds are the gemstone most commonly associated with engagement rings, but that has not always been the case. They first made their appearance in betrothal rings circa the fifteenth century but...
A signet ring features an intaglio gem, or decorative carving that is engraved with a monogram, coat of arms or, other heraldic or personal symbol. Throughout history, signets were used as...
This little perfect figure may seem to be a trifling matter on which to found an essay; and yet we shall find it connected with history and poetry. It is...
Earrings are much more than just decorative jewelry for the ear. Gods and goddesses, symbols, talismans and amulets have all been depicted in the designs fastened to or suspended from the ear...
Necklaces have existed ever since our ancestors began to walk upright. Our desire to adorn ourselves has been evident since ancient times with Paleolithic and Neolithic necklaces made from shells, bones,...
Terms & Definitions
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Aiguillettes (also spelled: aguillette, aiglet, or aglets) are needle-like dress ornaments intended to secure a cord or ribbon to a dress. During the first half of the 15th century, these...
Benvenuto Cellini, an Italian sculptor, and goldsmith who lived from 1500 to 1571 is regarded as the most important Renaissance era goldsmith. Working on commissions for clients that included several popes and...
Closed settings are used when it is desirable to have metal behind the stone so that no part of the stone below the girdle is visible. Early rings were set this way. Sometimes foil or paint was put...
A decade ring has ten bumps around the outside of the shank for use as a prayer counter. The bumps correspond to the ten Aves of the rosary and the bezel, usually having a...
Difficulta refers to the tendency to be innovative in the arts and at the same time making it hard on the artist to be able to create such a work....
Émail brun (from French: “brown enamel”) was developed in the Rhineland area around the time that they adopted the champlevé technique. Contrary to the name, it is not an enamel technique but rather a lacquering...
Foil backing (or foiling) is a gemstone surface enhancement technique where a thin sheet of metal or other material (sometimes colored) is placed behind the gemstone in order to reflect more...