The Art of Adornment
From ancient amulets to contemporary studio pieces, learn how form, materials, self-expression and craftsmanship transform jewellery into wearable art.
A curated blog on jewellery, identity, sculpture, and the lasting value of meaningful adornment.
Jewellery as Art: Adornment, Identity, and Memory
Jewellery has long functioned as more than ornament. From prehistoric shell beads to ritual wedding rings and mourning brooches, adornment has served as portable art, carrying identity, belief, status, and memory across generations. Ancient Egyptian amulets, Roman signet rings, Jewish ceremonial jewellery, and European memento mori pieces reveal a shared truth: jewellery operates simultaneously as aesthetic object, social language, and personal archive.
Today, contemporary art jewellery continues this lineage. Sculptural studio pieces transform precious metals, gemstones,unconventional and innovative materials into intimate works of art.
“Adornment is never a mere vanity; it is the most ancient and universal language of the human heart.”
Dr. Ellen Dissanayake (1992). Homo Aestheticus: Where Art Comes From and Why.