Medieval Gold Ornamental Attachment

Golden Jewellery was highly popular and sought after in Medieval times, worn by both men and women. It was not only a means to display wealth and social status, reflecting an intensely hierarchical and status-conscious society, but was also exchanged as tokens of love, or to ward off misfortune. Gold, silver, and precious gems were reserved for royalty and the nobility, whilst the lower ranks of society wore cheaper base metals such as copper or pewter. The repoussé technique, which was in use since Greek and Roman times, allows one to create a pattern with metalwork by hammering the reverse to produce a design in low relief. A variety of different metals were used such as silver, bronze, copper or gold, much like this beautiful example, to embellish vessels, ornaments and jewellery.