Antique jewelry glossary

Welcome to our extensive antique jewelry glossary with around 1,500 jewelry related entries.If you feel you are missing an explanation, feel free to let us know and we will add it.

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z     all

Peasant jewelry

Various articles of jewelry worn by peasants of most countries and usually made by local craftsmen in native tradition uninfluenced by current artistic fashions until the late 19th-century industrial revolution led to standardization.

Peasant jewelry in France:

A pendent cross, made in various regional styles, and worn suspended by a ribbon drawn by a jewelled slide (coulant) in the form of a bow-knot, heart or rosette; they were made of gold for married women and silver for girls, and were usually ornamented with foiled strass and sometimes gemstones. Other popular ornaments were the Saint-Esprit cross, Croix de Saint Lô, Croix A La Jeanette, Esclavage, and Norman cross.

Peasant jewelry in Italy:

A large amount of peasant jewelry is worn, made in many forms, especially earrings and hair ornaments. Much of it echoes the styles of previous centuries.

Peasant jewelry in Belgium:

Long pendent crosses and earrings, as well as pendent silver heart-shaped (Sacré-Coeur) pendant. Much of the decoration is in rose cut diamonds.

Peasant jewelry in Netherlands:

Peasant jewelry has been, and still is, worn in abundance, especially gold, silver, and gilded ornaments worn with lace caps, some being spiral pieces worn on each side of the head with suspended pendants or pearl clusters and some merely beaten gold skull-caps. Gold and silver buttons are worn, especially by men and boys.

Peasant jewelry in Germany:

Ornaments made of silver filigree, amber beads, and hollow silver beads.

Peasant jewelry in Scandinavia:

Silver ornaments with seldom any gemstones. Some buckles, crosses, and heart-shaped brooches are ornamented with suspended small concave metal discs.

Peasant jewelry in Spain:

Articles decorated with filigree enamel and painted enamel, and the frequent reliquary.

Peasant jewelry in Portugal:

Articles of gold filigree and long earrings and neck chains, many embellished with crystal.

Peasant jewelry in Mexico:

Articles that vary in style in different regions, but usually adapted from the time of the Spanish conquest. Featured are large silver crosses, crescent-shaped earrings with filigree decoration, and (in the lake region near Pátzcuaro) necklaces made of silver fish, as well as gold coins set undamaged in finger rings and pendants.

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