Antique jewelry glossary

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Hanseatic jewelry

Articles of jewelry made in the 14th century in the German Hanseatic towns. (A mercantile league, called the Hanseatic League, was formed in 1358, centred on Lübeck and Hamburg; it continued until the 17th century.)

The jewelry, much of it probably made in the wealthy town of Lübeck, often has decoration of relief animal motifs suggested by medieval heraldry, embellished by set gemstones. Examples have been found on the island of Gotland and in Ostergotland, Sweden.

From: An Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry, autor: Harold Newman, publishers: Thames and Hudson