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Ancient Sumeria to Pre-Columbian America: The Sparkling History of Jewelry

The history of a mineral, crystal or metalculture along the Mediterranean trade routes
can unlock a deeper, more meaningful value toand as a result, its jewelry making
jewelry. Indeed, the anthropology,flourished. The Minoans are known for their
archaeology, geography, and technology ofstamped gold sheeting and filigree and
special gems and elements can provide richgranulated gold jewelry, burial masks, and
stories.beads. Some of these techniques show up in
Etruscan art. In Rome, the use of gold grew
Copperbeyond jewelry and expanded into household
items and furniture in the homes of the
Take for example copper, and its oxides,higher  classes.
which are the most ancient minerals used.
They began showing up in the ancient jewelryThe news of the discovery of gold during the
of Sumeria, Pre-Columbian America, and Egypt19th century in the American West could
around 4,000 B.C., and also played a vitalresult in thousands of settlers who would
role in the wars fought in those volatilerisk life and limb for a chance of finding
regions.gold. The most famous gold rush occurred in
California  at  Sutter's  Mill  in  1848.
In addition to copper, Egyptians were also
among the first to develop bronze, a mixtureSilver
of tin and copper. As early as 3,900 B.C.,
Egyptians were developing copper productsSilver has been found in modern-day burial
which eventually were used in commonexcavations of the ancient Sumerian city of
household items such as cooking pots. ByUr. What is now modern-day Turkey was once a
2,500 B.C., Egyptian jewelry makers hadmajor source of mined silver. The Chaldeans
developed copper to a level that it was beingwere the first culture to extract silver form
used  to  create  crows  and  headdresses.other  ores  around  2,500  B.C.
Copper use in Pre-Columbian America mayHistorically, the cultures of South and North
predate its use in the Middle East. In someAmerica, Greece, China, Rome and Mexico
cultures, metal working was so advanced itdeveloped superior silversmithing techniques
rivaled those of the European invaders.and made wide use of silver, not only in
Pre-Columbian Americans used copper forjewelry  but  also  in  household  items.
bells, ornaments, weapons, jewelry, and
armor.In the New World, Spanish conquests revealed
that the skills of silversmiths were
Goldcomparable to Spain in level of technique and
artistry. Exploitation of this silver by
The history of gold is long and complex,Europeans in Bolivia, Peru and Mexico
toppling some cultures and giving rise toeventually produced nearly 85 percent of the
others. It has been and continues to be aworld's  silver  between  1500  and  1800.
symbol of wealth and power. Not surprisingly,
the use of gold in African cultures has beenIn the 19th century, silver jewelry became
extensive. Most often, tribes used gold tomore affordable thanks to advances in
create objects for the court of the localtechnology. Tiffany and Company began
chiefs. Workshops exclusively dedicated toproducing silverware in New York, while
the production of these treasures wereNevada enjoyed the boom days of the Comstock
extensive  and  elaborate.Lode in Virginia City, during which the mine
produced millions of dollars worth of silver.
In the Middle East, the discovery of Egyptian
jewelry found in the tomb of Queen Zer andSilver was the metal of choice in the 20th
Queen Pu-abi of Ur in Sumeria are not onlycentury for craftsmen of the Arts and Crafts
the oldest pieces of gold jewelry inmovement, who rebelled against the mass
existence, but also the oldest examples foundproduced jewelry that dominated the time.
in  any  kind  of  jewelry.They combined silver with uncut stones and
cabochons. Jewelers from this time were
Sadly, over the centuries thieves raided mostmostly untrained novices and so the quality
of the Egyptian tombs. Thankfully, however,of most of the pieces from this movement is
the tomb of Tutankhamen remained undisturbedlow. The best jewelry from the Arts and
until its discovery in the 20th century. ItCrafts movement was produced by C.R. Ashbee,
was the largest collection of gold andHenry Wilson, Harold Stabler, and Liberty
jewelry in the world and represents the& Co., to name a few. One of the best
highest mark of skill in art achieved inknown Art Nouveau jewelry designers was Louis
human  history.Comfort Tiffany. In 1964, the U.S. government
stopped issuing silver certificates, which up
The Minoan culture grew rich as a tradinguntil then had supported the paper currency.



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