The History of African Jewelry Begins with the Birth of the Art
The history of African jewelry is largely believed to indicate the birthing point for this art form. Evidence of early beads has been found on this continent dating back some 75,000 years in human history. Handcrafted works from Africa have evolved through time and taken on many elaborate forms. The African artisans are credited with creating elaborate works of jewelry hundreds of years before their counterparts in Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. African jewelry covers the gamut when it comes to styles and types of materials used. The types of jewelry crafted here throughout history includes necklaces, earrings, crowns, earrings and more. The popularity of African jewelry continues today. These handcrafted pieces are known for their beauty, quality and diversity of materials.Evolution of African Jewerly
The history of jewelry on this continent begins with very rudimentary archaeological finds. Beads crafted from eggs and other simple materials have been found that date back centuries. Through the years, African artisans became much more sophisticated in their craft. In time, they became known for working in a variety of metals and with a variety of different stones, glass and other adornments to create pieces that denoted wealth and standing within their societies. Today, African handcrafted jewelry remains highly sought after the world over. Jewelry from this continent is known for its beautiful colors, careful attention to detail and distinct materials.Common Materials
Throughout time African jewelry has been known for its diversity of materials. Artisans here, in fact, have used about every material imaginable to craft everything from rings and earrings to necklaces, crowns and bracelets. Some of the more popular materials used in African handmade jewelry craft have included:- • Natural metals – African jewelry has long been made with metals. Artisans here are known for their works in bronze, copper and gold in particular.• Precious and semiprecious stones – Believe it or not, African jewelry is more commonly associated with less precious stones than the diamonds the country is so rich in. Stones used throughout history by African artisans have include turquoise, lapis lazuli, sapphires, rubies and emeralds. It's said that diamonds were not favored because they were devoid of color.
• Other materials – In addition to metals and stones, African artisans have used such things as animal teeth, shells and eggs for their creations in the history of jewelry.
