As in many societies in antiquity, jewellery was an important social marker used to demonstrate wealth in the Roman Empire. With the expansion of the empire, Roman jewellery became more elaborate in its design, as goldsmiths were influenced by the range of styles, materials and techniques used by craftsmen in these newly conquered territories. By incorporating these foreign techniques and new designs, Rome could reflect its position as a prosperous and dominant conquering city. Roman jewellery was enriched and embellished with precious, semi-precious stones and glass beads. Like many ancient cultures, the Romans believed turquoise to hold powers of good luck and would ward off evil spirits. Therefore the semi-precious stone would be worn not only as a display of wealth but also as protection.
To find out more about different metal decorative techniques please see our relevant blog post: Decorative Metalwork Techniques
