Jewellery is thought to be one of the oldest forms of art within history, with the presence of rings, bangles and necklaces’ being present in almost all ancient societies. Many grand civilisations inhabited the area of Western Asia in Antiquity, and their wealth and prosperity is witnessed by the very sophisticated, interesting, and unique styles of jewellery discovered in the area. Not only did gold serve a social function, but also a spiritual one in the Western Asiatic: gold for instance was thought to be a product of the underworld, originating from the dust of its mountain, while silver was considered to possess prophylactic and apotropaic qualities. Such mythical properties were doubtless known to responsible goldsmiths and craftsmen who, using hammering and smelting processes, were able to create outstanding pieces for private clientèle and an increasing mass of buyers.
To discover more about metalwork techniques in Antiquity, please visit our relevant blog post: Decorative Metalwork Techniques
