Jewellery Ornaments Quotes

Despite the multitude of extraordinary changes that have taken place in almost every area of life, jewellery is still used for pretty well the same purposes as it has always been. Primitive man is said to have worn a kind of ornamentation to enhance his sexual attraction as well as provide protection against all manner of disasters, from snakes to evil spirits. Cleopatra used jewels (with a particular fondness for emeralds) to seduce admirers and rivals not only on her body but in her home. They showed off her fabulous wealth and position. Julius Caesar ruled that only the highest born women could wear pearls, which were Rome’s most valued jewels. Not only does our jewellery mean something to each of us, but it also has meaning to those who view us. Jewellery has forever been a currency understood by all.

their own ornaments and jewellery, but also shipped on many Roman products such as bronze lamps and even rather good counterfeit Roman intaglios manufactured in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. These seem to have been passed off in South-east Asia as the original Roman goods, rather like the fake Louis Vuitton and Gucci bags found in the region’s bazaars today.52

To fund the war effort against France, Princess Marianne appealed in 1813 to all wealthy and aristocratic women there to swap their gold ornaments for base metal, to fund the war effort. In return they were given iron replicas of the gold items of jewellery they had donated, stamped with the words ‘Gold gab ich für Eisen’, ‘I gave gold for iron’. At social events thereafter, wearing and displaying the iron replica jewellery and ornaments became a far better indication of status than wearing gold itself. Gold jewellery merely proved that your family was rich, while iron jewellery proved that your family was not only rich but also generous and patriotic.

The long mahogany table was piled with riches: golden cups, statuettes, and platters sat amongst chests filled with jewellery that glittered even in the muted light of the captain’s quarters. “I was just pickin’ out the things I thought ye’d like. Ye know… for yer fancy meals and, ah… things.” The first mate held a heavily ornamented spoon aloft, the smile on his rugged face enthusiastic.