Antique Gold
Antique Gold

The Elegance of Antique Jewelry
The title should in fact be extended further than this: The Elegance of Symbol in Antique Jewelry.
Of all the properties, be it aesthetics or material value, that people, since the dawn of time, have invested in jewelry, the symbol of power is the most important.
Only very few could afford to be adorned with jewelry, so this extravagance is concentrated in upper classes of the civilizations we know. This can be documented from the finds in graves whether they date back to the Bronze Age (2.500 B.C.) or the Middle Ages. Rich graves are better preserved and gold, silver and gems better survive through centuries than leather, wood, textiles, bone, etc. which common people could afford.
All levels of classes are involved in producing jewelry, from the workers in the mines to the jewellers and goldsmiths. We find this to be true whether we talk about the Antiquity or the present.
But also poets, musicians, healers, astronomers, astrologers, painters and philosophers have illustrated the beauty and meaning of gems and jewelry and this narration of culture are shared by all members of society.
These different descriptions and approaches also share the immanent and common purpose that culture invests in meaning: to identify and legitimise power and class differences. Jewelry is always used to signal power, distance, control, prestige, status and place in hierarchy.
Most cultures combine different gems and metals with different level of status, hierarchy, medicine, stars, destiny and the likes.
Symbolic meaning and jewelry also associates power with the beauty, value and magic. Even if each culture intermix and exchange ideas, their cultural representation and different traditions, religion and way of control can be identified through the study of jewelry.
It is the elegance of this symbolic distribution throughout societies, which contribute to the maintenance of hierarchy as culture. As long as all members of a culture love songs and stories about the beauty and bliss of jewelry, they play a role in making symbolic meaning narrated in a meaningful way. Hereby binding together culture, history and hierarchy.
Mountains and gems, find perfection from transparency and beautiful colors. To them belongs the precious stones we so desire: carnelian, jasper, emerald and similar gems. There should be nothing and more beautiful than these”. Plato, Phaedo c. 400 BC.
Plato (427- 347 BC) used precious stones in his dialogue Phaedo to illustrate the future paradise where the soul – freed from the body – exists without disfigurement or disease. He also used gems to illustrate the stars, animals and plants. He believed in his mentor Socrates, when making the use of images of flawless jasper, carnelian and emeralds to render notions of spiritual bliss.
Aristotle (384 – 322 BC) wrote about the power and effect of precious stones and similarly, Theophrastos (370 – 287 BC), a pupil of Aristotle, informed his readers that like Plato, he especially valued emeralds: Some of the stones, for example, jasper and lapis lazuli, are unusual in their appearance, but in addition to its beauty, the emerald most certainly possesses magical powers”.
Antique Jewelry was invested with bliss or magical and healing powers and in the same time they signified status and place in hierarchy. The slave based and stratified societies in the Antique world surely used gold and gems to legitimise dominance, control and exploitation by elegantly referring to the aesthetics and poetic value of gems and workmanship as well as the magical powers embedded in the stones.
The nobles demonstrated status and wealth openly as if it were the most natural thing of the world. In his History of Asia and Europe (c. 130 BC), the Greek historian and geographer Agatharchides of Cnidos writes about the noble residents of Sheba and Gerrha: The furnishings of their houses were made of silver, gold, ivory and precious stones”.
Historical jewelry is thus an interesting subject of study as it helps identifying different cultures and traditions.
The title should in fact be extended further than this: The Elegance of Symbol in Antique Jewelry.
Of all the properties, be it aesthetics or material value, that people, since the dawn of time, have invested in jewelry, the symbol of power is the most important.
Only very few could afford to be adorned with jewelry, so this extravagance is concentrated in upper classes of the civilizations we know. This can be documented from the finds in graves whether they date back to the Bronze Age (2.500 B.C.) or the Middle Ages. Rich graves are better preserved and gold, silver and gems better survive through centuries than leather, wood, textiles, bone, etc. which common people could afford.
All levels of classes are involved in producing jewelry, from the workers in the mines to the jewellers and goldsmiths. We find this to be true whether we talk about the Antiquity or the present.
But also poets, musicians, healers, astronomers, astrologers, painters and philosophers have illustrated the beauty and meaning of gems and jewelry and this narration of culture are shared by all members of society.
These different descriptions and approaches also share the immanent and common purpose that culture invests in meaning: to identify and legitimise power and class differences. Jewelry is always used to signal power, distance, control, prestige, status and place in hierarchy.
Most cultures combine different gems and metals with different level of status, hierarchy, medicine, stars, destiny and the likes.
Symbolic meaning and jewelry also associates power with the beauty, value and magic. Even if each culture intermix and exchange ideas, their cultural representation and different traditions, religion and way of control can be identified through the study of jewelry.
It is the elegance of this symbolic distribution throughout societies, which contribute to the maintenance of hierarchy as culture. As long as all members of a culture love songs and stories about the beauty and bliss of jewelry, they play a role in making symbolic meaning narrated in a meaningful way. Hereby binding together culture, history and hierarchy.
Mountains and gems, find perfection from transparency and beautiful colors. To them belongs the precious stones we so desire: carnelian, jasper, emerald and similar gems. There should be nothing and more beautiful than these”. Plato, Phaedo c. 400 BC.
Plato (427- 347 BC) used precious stones in his dialogue Phaedo to illustrate the future paradise where the soul – freed from the body – exists without disfigurement or disease. He also used gems to illustrate the stars, animals and plants. He believed in his mentor Socrates, when making the use of images of flawless jasper, carnelian and emeralds to render notions of spiritual bliss.
Aristotle (384 – 322 BC) wrote about the power and effect of precious stones and similarly, Theophrastos (370 – 287 BC), a pupil of Aristotle, informed his readers that like Plato, he especially valued emeralds: Some of the stones, for example, jasper and lapis lazuli, are unusual in their appearance, but in addition to its beauty, the emerald most certainly possesses magical powers”.
Antique Jewelry was invested with bliss or magical and healing powers and in the same time they signified status and place in hierarchy. The slave based and stratified societies in the Antique world surely used gold and gems to legitimise dominance, control and exploitation by elegantly referring to the aesthetics and poetic value of gems and workmanship as well as the magical powers embedded in the stones.
The nobles demonstrated status and wealth openly as if it were the most natural thing of the world. In his History of Asia and Europe (c. 130 BC), the Greek historian and geographer Agatharchides of Cnidos writes about the noble residents of Sheba and Gerrha: The furnishings of their houses were made of silver, gold, ivory and precious stones”.
Historical jewelry is thus an interesting subject of study as it helps identifying different cultures and traditions.
Hindi Songs - My "Old Is Gold" Collection
![]() Antique England Porcelain John Maddock Sons Gold trimmed Biscuit Jar Lid US $43.95
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![]() Antique Wood Gold Insert Picture Frame13 1 2x17 1 2 US $14.50
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![]() Antique Retro Vintage long leaves gold ring red stones size 65 wedding prom US $9.99
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![]() New Antique Gold Mens Analog Quartz Pocket Watch 64 US $.99
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![]() Antique Branch CORAL necklace with 9ctGOLD catch SALMON COLOUR US $16.64
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![]() PAIR ANTIQUE EARLY VICTORIAN 14K GOLD ENAMEL BUTTONS W PEARLS c1870 US $249.00
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![]() Antique Locket 15K Gold And 1 3K Diamond From The Late 1800s 1133 Grams US $1,499.00
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![]() 2010 BRAND NEW BNWT Victorias Bridal 891166 Antique Gold Wedding Dress Gown 8 US $279.17
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![]() 1y ZOFFANY ANTIQUE GOLD LINEN CHECK Upholstery Fabric US $9.99
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![]() VINTAGE OMEGA SEAMASTER AUTOMATIC STEEL GOLD SWISS MENS WRIST WATCH OLD ANTIQUE US $541.62
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![]() Antique Wheeling Dec Co Gold Painted Teapot US $5.00
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![]() Antique gold tone Rhinestones Fold over Fashion Bracelet US $19.99
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![]() Toledo Ohio High School Pin 1907 Antique Vintage Gold Tone Stamped R US $4.99
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![]() Antique Mechanical Gold Tone Mens Golden Pocket Watch US $1.55
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![]() VENETIAN GLASS BEADS ANTIQUE RED WITH BRIGHT GOLD AVENTURINE EDGE US $16.30
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![]() Antique Style skeleton carved gold mens GIFT mechanical pocket watch chain box US $15.91
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![]() antique style skeleton carved gold men XMAS GIFT quartz pocket watch chain box US $8.91
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![]() antique cast metal gold tone horse mantel clock by united clock in New York 1830 US $925.00
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![]() TRADE BEADS ANTIQUE VENETIAN LIGHT CREAM GOLD AVENTURINE WEDDING CAKE US $12.95
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![]() QUALITY ANTIQUE 9CT ROSE GOLD FIERY OPAL SAPPHIRE RING US $238.49
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![]() New Antique Classic Gold Case Men Analog Quartz Pocket Watch Xmas Gift S12 US $.99
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![]() TRADE BEADS ANTIQUE VENETIAN RED GOLD LEAF WEDDING CAKE GLASS BEADS US $9.95
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![]() Vintage Antique Miniature Gold Framed Child Picture Photograph Portrait Tartan US $11.40
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![]() A FINE ANTIQUEDIAMOND SAPHIREMOURNING BROOCH 9CT YELLOW GOLD C1900 18 gm US $39.77
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![]() A FINE ANTIQUE VICTORIAN MAPLE LEAF BAR BROOCH 9CT ROSE GOLD 22gm C1900 US $39.77
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![]() 1930s Vintage Mans Antique Gold square wristwatch Edwin deluxe U fix complete US $45.00
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![]() ANTIQUE TURQUOISE PEARL FIVE STONE 18ct GOLD FINGER RING 22 gm SIZE 8 US US $127.77
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![]() ANTIQUE SOLID GOLD BROOCH DECORATED WITH SEED PEARLS 15 gm Circa 1920 US $43.60
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![]() MENS ANTIQUE CRAWFORD WATCH 10K GOLD RUNS GREAT US $249.99
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![]() Antique Victorian Round 9K Rose Gold Locket Starburst Clear Rhinestone Lovely US $18.50
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![]() Vintage Antique Miniature Gold Framed Picture Photograph Portrait Doll House US $8.63
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![]() lamp urn porcelain gold gilt french scene colonial courting 50 antique US $50.00
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![]() John Maddox Sons square gold rimmed Royal Vitreous candy dish antique china US $.99
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![]() Antique Holy card with gold print 1917 US $1.99
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![]() Antique Holy card with gold print 1922 US $1.99
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![]() ANTIQUE GOLD 5 LIGHT CHANDELIER WITH GLASSNIB US $199.99
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![]() Antique Holy card with gold print US $.99
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![]() Antique Nice Holy card with gold print 1930 US $.99
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![]() 2 Pr Elegant Antique Victorian Rolled Gold Repousse Cufflinks US $14.16
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![]() 12 GOLD MEDAL BRAND ANTIQUE HAND HEMMED IRISH LINEN DAMASK NAPKINS SATIN BAND US $41.88
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![]() ANTIQUE PANSY BUD FLOWER PORCELAIN VASE DECORATIVE GOLD DETAILS US $17.00
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![]() ANTIQUE 18K GOLD 40Ct DIAMOND SYNTHETIC RUBY Ring 1900 US $620.00
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![]() 50 Antique Gold HOPE Ribbon Charms Support Cancer US $9.99
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![]() CAMEO Stud Earrings Vintage st Blue Crystal Antique Gold GP N1523 US $.99
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![]() ANTIQUE PORCELAIN ELECTRIC TABLE LAMP FLORAL BOTH SIDES GOLD TRIM LAMP BASE US $9.99
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![]() ANTIQUE VICTORIAN ETRUSCAN 14K ROSE GOLD SUPERB HAND WORK 39 Gr BROOCH PIN 1880 US $340.00
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![]() Black Onyx Gemstone Antique Gold GP Vintage ST Bracelet gi346 US $.99
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![]() ANTIQUE VICTORIAN 18k GOLD 30Ct Foil Back ROSE DIAMOND Vtg STUD EARRINGS c 1870 US $520.00
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![]() ANTIQUE VICTORIAN 62Gr SOLID 18k SOSE GOLD 20Ct ROSE DIAMOND BROOCH PIN 1880 US $530.00
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![]() ANTIQUE EDWARDIANS 18K GOLD 20Ct Old Mine DIAMOND RUBY DAISY STUD EARRINGS 1910 US $750.00
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![]() CAMEO Stud Earrings Vintage st Purple Crystal Antique Gold GP N1531 US $.99
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![]() 7Cm LONG ANTIQUE ART NOUVEAU 18K GOLD PEARL FLOWER LEAF HANDMADE PIN BROOCH 1895 US $239.00
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![]() ANTIQUE VICTORIAN 18K GOLD SILVER DIAMOND 3 Leaf STUD EARRINGS 1900 US $462.00
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![]() ANTIQUE VICTORIAN LARGE 14K ROSE GOLD SUPERB Hand Made BROOCH PIN 1850 US $480.00
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![]() LIBBEY ANTIQUE AMERICAN 22 K GOLD ON ROCKS GLASSES 7 US $9.99
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![]() ANTIQUE VINTAGE CUFFLINK KREMENTZ BUTTON GOLD TONE MOTHER OF PEARL US $.99
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![]() ANTIQUE VICTORIAN 18K GOLD Rose DIAMOND EMERALD FLOWER DAISY DELICATE RING 1900 US $250.00
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![]() 47mm LONG ANTIQUE VICTORIAN 18k GOLD VTG 70Ct Rose DIAMOND TUNIS EARRINGS 1905 US $990.00
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![]() Fine Estate Antique 14k Gold Cameo Pin Pendent US $250.00
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![]() Antique Reproduction RCA Victor Phonograph Gramophone Gold Brass Horn MSRP $500 US $149.99
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US $43.95































































