Gemstones

2005-10-27T15:56:28Z

203.177.161.114: /* References: */

A large number number of '''gemstones''' were known to many cultures during the [[medieval]] period. Which gemstones were known in which time and place is harder to ascertain. Such small precious goods could travel vast distances via trading, a trade which had been widespread in the time of the [[ancient]] Myceneans (2000BC?), so it is only via the evidence of archeological finds and writings of gemstones that we can be sure which stones reached which cultures. Trade goods were more likely to reach prosperous outwards looking cultures than ones undergoing [[war]], famine or internal unrest.

[[Book]]s on gemstones, called [[lapidary|lapidaries]], were published throughout [[period]]. Many names occur for the same gemstones in [[medieval]] [[literature]], making it difficult to identify the gemstone named. The same name may also be applied to several similar looking gemstones, e.g. [[carbuncle]] could refer to [[ruby]] or [[garnet]].

Expensive gemstones (these are the four traditional precious gemstones):
*[[diamond]]
*[[ruby]]
*[[sapphire]]
*[[emerald]]

Moderately expensive:
*[[amethyst]] (bigger discoveries in the [[modern]] period have brought the price down, making it a good value choice for the modern [[reenactment|reenactor]])
*[[garnet]]
*[[pearl]]

Cheap:
*rock crystal
*agate

[[Out-of-period]] gemstones (or gemstones which were so excessively rare as to not have names in medieval [[Europe]]):
*black opal
*jade (not available in [[Europe]], rare in the [[Middle East]], common in [[China]])
*tiger eye (http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/cariadoc/gemstones.html)
*labradorite
*tourmaline

Also fake gemstones (e.g. [[Cabochons]] - coloured [[glass]] jewels backed with metal foil) existed in medieval times, as a cheaper way to make things more ostentatious. They are more likely to be used in uses such as [[garment]]s and [[belt]]s, than on something like the [[crown jewels]]. Just remember that in some times glitz was popular, with more being better, but in others obvious use of fake gems would mark one as a cheap try-hard, and a few fine pieces of real gems might be preferred. [[Enamel]] could also be used to create brightly coloured blobs that pass for gems at a distance.

Other items were also used in the same manner as gemstones - [[glass]], [[ivory]], very small [[mirror]]s.

For the lower classes cheaper alternatives than gemstones existed for [[jewelry]] - [[bone]] [[bead]]s, cheap stone, wooden or cheap glass beads and similar items.

===References:===
*[http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/cariadoc/gemstones.html Cariadoc's ''"On gemstones"'']
*Lois Sherer, ''"30,000 years of beads"''. (Available from many places including [[Melbourne University]] [[Library]])
*[http://www.mjnfashion.com Fashion Shell Jewelry]

Jewelry

2005-10-27T15:55:06Z

203.177.161.114: /* References */

'''Jewelry''' was a diverse art during the [[middle ages]] of making items that ornamented their wearer. Items could be purely decorative, or practical items to which decoration was added to create a pleasant effect, and impression of wealth.

Jewelry included items [[modern]]ly thought of as jewelry:
*[[ring]]s, including [[seal ring]]s
*[[brooch]]es including [[annular]]s, [[pennanular]]s, [[disk brooch]]es
*necklaces
*pendants including decorative [[seal]]s, reliqueries, and much more
*decorative [[pin]]s, and also [[veil pin]]s
*bracelets
*[[earring]]s
and also other items:
*[[horse harness pendant]]s
*fancy jewlled [[belt]]s
*jewelled [[trim]] on clothing
*[[fillet]]s (head bands), [[torc]]s, [[circlet]]s, [[crown]]s, [[coronet]]s
*[[pilgrims badge]]s

Jewelry could be made from a variety of materials:
*metal wire ([[gold]], [[silver]], [[copper]], [[lead]], alloys....)
*cast [[metal]] such as [[pewter]]
*[[bead]]s from [[gemstones]], [[glass]], [[ivory]], [[shell]] and coral, [[rock]] (e.g. fossils), [[wood]] or [metal]]
*[[enamel]]ling
*carved wood or ivory (sometimes covered in other objects, e.g. painted, gilded or inset with gems)
*[[coin]]s or other keepsakes, e.g. a disk brooch or earring from a coin (although in some cases deliberate copies were manufactured).

== See also ==
*[[gemstones]]
*[[bead]]s
*[[gold]]

== References ==
*[http://www.addgr.com/jewel/elka/index.html Greek jewelry]
*[http://www.florilegium.org/files/ACCESS/jewelry-msg.html Jewelry in Stefan's floregium]
*[http://www.mjnfashion.com MJN Fashion Jewelry]

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Gemstones

Jewelry