Fashion over function.
You know the saying fashion over function Cuties?
Apparently, that saying goes way back and I mean ancient(Haha, see what I did
there?). In the Stone Age! The first use of what we use as necklaces was
actually just simply made to hold up our clothes and supplies. We made them
from animal bones and tendons. Simple and not at all fashionable. Let's put on
our totally fashion forward time traveling LBD's (Little Black Dresses from the
finest wild cat there is.) and head to 40,000 to 10,000 BC. At this time the time for jewelry as a whole
was beginning to first bloom. As along with functional reasons and uses,
necklaces were starting to be used for purely aesthetic reasons. Still strung
together by tendons, but added more flair if you will Cuties. Along with the
bones, they added teeth, pearls, and stones. I guess we could say it's just the
beginning Cuties, we haven't even gotten to the real goods.
Metallurgy.
In 7,000BC is when in the name of necklaces people as a
species have made a huge discovery! It was the birth of metallurgy. Metallurgy
is defined as "the branch of science and technology concerned with
properties of metal and their purification". In other words, this is the time where we
discovered how 24K Gold is the best type as compared to 14K. Not to mention
here, my dear Cuties, is when we started adding gem stones to necklaces and
jewelry as a whole. Praise the Lord I say! At this point is history is where
gold smithing techniques saw their infancy.
Egypt.
Ah, the Egyptians, we shall visit them again, because they
have some things to show us Cuties, and remember, all that glitters is not
gold, and that they knew well. Let's head off to around 3000BC! The Egyptians
definitely hold a fond place in my heart, and with beauty as a whole. They were
also very fond of gold. Around this time, they started crafting their famous
and notably expensive (even at the time they were created) gold necklaces, the
Egyptians were fond of gold because they found it the easiest material to mold,
so it left room for more creative input. They commonly used designs like scrab
beetles, scrolls, winged birds, tigers and jackals to name a few. Sadly, but
not surprisingly, these beauties were only meant for the rich and the royal and
it was a huge symbol of status.
Modern era.
As we approach the modern era, something ties to this
necklaces seem to transcend the times. Even though a lot has changed (can you
imagine the Egyptian tombs with rose gold? Totally fabulous, totally
historically incorrect.) some values remain the same. To this day necklaces
still hold some religious or sentimental value to us as a species. Things like
crosses or that dainty necklace your sweetheart gave you on your first
anniversary, small things like that still hold a huge value in our society.
Just like the Egyptians of the past and many others, spiritual beliefs pass
through the times as strong as ever.
Bold or dainty we have history to thank.
I always feel it's so interesting to look back and see how
similar we all really are still. Because at the end of the day, whether it's a
bold statement necklace or a dainty birthstone necklace, we still have them in
all designs. It's weird for me to imagine a world without them. Jewelry has a
pull on our heart strings and we came from small but important discoveries, or
how Drake would put it, which is clearly the best way, "Started from the
bottom now we're here"! Next time
you're stalling over what necklace fits the outfit you've been slaving over all
night, think how it would feel to only have gold cats. OR maybe you prefer
bones and teeth? Decisions are still eminent I see.
Where I got my info:
Ancient Egyptian Jewelry: right here
First Historical Background of Jewelry-The Stone Age: right here
Check them out if you want even more information Cuties!
Until next time Cuties(:
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