Gold during Different Art Movements

Whether it was used as a form of ornament, precious items buried with its owner, currency and trade exchange, or in art, gold remains highly appreciated and valued. Due to its brightness, lustre and excellent qualities, gold is used in jewellery making. The gold jewellery industry has gone through many changes, and it was affected by many factors: the way people perceived gold and the art movements.

For a long period till recent history, gold had a religious significance. It was used in religious sculptures for the Gods' of ancient times. When it comes to being used as jewellery, it was the ornamental tool for religious men, churchmen and royalty. The way jewellery was designed is also different. Back then, it was more about religious figures and symbols. From a piece of jewellery, you can tell the social rank and position of the jewellery holder.
Things started to differ and evolve as art evolves throughout history. Romanticism marks the new shift in gold jewellery. Starting from this period, jewellery starts to have various designs, more production, and available to all. In this period, women began wearing jewellery more than men since the purpose of jewellery is not centred around the church and its men. As a result, jewellery started to be available in large numbers, in different designs, and to a broader range of people.

The realism effect is highly recognised till our days. A real representation of nature influences this movement's jewellery designs. You wear the beauty of nature in a gold piece of jewellery. On the other hand, Surrealism influenced jewellery making in a unique way that still has its touch in almost every jewellery item. With its bizarre shapes, weirdly large or huge shapes, surrealism art can be seen in jewellery.

Moving forward in time till we reach our days, we can notice that the new jewellery designs are the way to show the best from previous periods, and at the same time with more individualism. Customised designs are available and highly demanded, as people believe that they are unique and they need to stand out with anything they wear. Therefore, many would request an engagement ring with their birthstone or a necklace with a zodiac-sign pendant.

Jewellery design is an accumulative process from the old days, previous experiences, and it will continue to change and enhance to cope with new art movements. It started as a form to show the person's social rank, and it reaches now to be a tool to show our uniqueness, personalities and individualities to make each one of us stand out as a one of a kind.