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

Strapwork

A decorative pattern in the form of crossing and interlaced straight or curved bands resembling straps. It was used on enamelled jewelry in the 16th century, and also as black-enamelled flat metal bands folded, crossed or interlaced in arabesque patterns on some Renaissance jewelry. In the later Baroque period it was more voluted and often accompanied by leafy ornaments (then called Laub- und Bandelwerk, German for 'leaf and strapwork'), owing something to the design of Jean Bérain père in France; in such form it is found mainly on porcelain, but it was also used on some jewelry, especially some from south Germany.

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