Whether you are a history buff or simply seeing handmadebeaded jewelry worn by your favorite actresses, it is hard to look at thejewelry from the past and not take a look at the handmade jewelry that was wornthen. While some of these pieces look unbearably clunky and old fashioned now,some would look right at home on today's top fashion catwalks and expos.Jewelry, in all of its forms, has had a strong effect on the world and thefashions that were based off of it.


Early in history, jewelry was a mark of status of some sort.Perhaps the only people who could wear it were of religious importance, orperhaps they were the only people who could afford it. You'll find that eventhough the handmade beaded jewelry from early eras seems primitive to our eyes thatit was still crafted with care. For instance, the twisted torques, closefitting necklaces that were worn by the Celts, was often a sign of both manhoodand wealth.


Later on, jewelry was a mark of privilege and leisure; itwas a show that not only could you afford to feed yourself and your loved ones,but that you could spend a lot of extra money on beautiful things. Forinstance, in many parts of Europe, there were sumptuary laws that forbid peopleof a certain class from wearing things that were too extravagant, whether thatwas cloth, jewelry or special leathers. Often though, people would ignore theserules and the fact that they had to pay a fine was also seen as a mark ofstatus and wealth!


During the Victorian age in Europe, handmade beaded jewelrystarted taking the shapes that would be very familiar to those of us who wearjewelry today. The Victorian era had a very strong interest in death andfunerary arts, though, and this was often eerily represented in so-calledmourning jewelry, where people would snip hair from their departed loved onesand weave it into lockets, broaches and rings. Sometimes this jewelry would getvery elaborate and it could be quite beautiful, especially when differentshades of hair were used.


The beginning of the twentieth century saw the beginning ofcostume jewelry. Costume jewelry, far from being as cheap or as disposable asthe name implies, was actually meant to be jewelry that complemented oneparticular outfit. Various precious metals and gems could -and often did gointo the production of costume jewelry.


Today, we are experiencing a real renaissance as far asjewelry goes, and whether you love fine handmade beaded jewelry or simply loveadorning yourself with something new every day, take a look and see what sortof impact the right piece of jewelry can have on you!


Feel sexy, alluring and provocative! Discover customhandmade jewelry designed to enhance your individuality and compliment yourbeauty. Go now and indulge yourself with affordable uncommonly unique HandmadeBeaded Jewelry.


Given the fact that jewelry has played such a role in humanhistory, it is no wonder that handmade beaded jewelry makes such an importantappearance in our myth and legends as well! If you have ever wondered if peoplewere as fascinated with beaded jewelry in the past as we are today, take a lookbelow for some famous examples of jewelry in our most famous stories.


The magicring has played a large part in myths and legends from around the world. Forinstance, in the original Aladdin, while the most powerful djinn was summonedfrom the magic lamp, a less powerful djinn came from a magic ring. KingArthur's magician Merlin was given a ring that forced him to fall in love witha young sorceress, while the Norse god Odin had an arm ring that would drop newgold rings from it every day.

Magical necklaces certainly have their place in myth and folklore as well. The Near Eastern goddess Inanna descended into the underworld and at each gate she was asked to leave more behind, and one of the objects she dropped was a string of lapis beads. The Yasakani no Magatama is part of the Imperial Regalia of Japan, which are used in the ceremony to enthrone the emperor. This beaded necklace was thought to have been hung on a tree outside of the sun goddess's cave, to tempt her out of hiding after she had become frightened. Similarly, the Norse goddess Freya had a beautiful necklace known as Brisingamen, and when she wore it, no man could resist her!

Sometimes, particular gems will find their way into myths and legends. In Lithuania, for instance, it was once believed that there was a mermaid who displeased the gods by bringing a human lover to live with her in her amber palace. For a punishment, her palace was destroyed, and now she sits under the water weeping tears of amber for her lost live.


In Egypt, a menit was a beaded necklace with a flat counterpoise on the front and a counterweight on the back. This important piece of ceremonial jewelry was worn by devotees to the Egyptian goddess Hathor, and it was a sign of her authority and her ability to give her power to the pharaoh. Often, there would be art of the goddess Hathor hanging this necklace from the neck of the pharaoh or simply handing it to him as a sign of her approval.


As you can see, handmade beaded jewelry of various types and forms make up an important part of our myths and stories, no matter where we are in the world we are looking or with what culture.


Source: www.articlealley.com

By : EMFEX