"If we had no winter,
the spring would not be so pleasant."
-- Anne Bradstreet
the spring would not be so pleasant."
-- Anne Bradstreet
Choose vintage jewelry
Choosing vintage jewelry allows you to accessorize with pieces that have a unique sense of history (whether it be foreign or familial) without calling for the use of virgin materials such as precious metals, gemstones, or plastic that have dire environmental repercussions in their acquisition and creation.
Read the whole interesting story at: www.greenyour.com
Read the whole interesting story at: www.greenyour.com
Diamonds Still Shine
In uncertain economic times, people often change habits. They trim their budgets as best they can, eat out less, avoid splurging on "fun" items to afford things they need. But, according to Hunter Woodard, some desires won't ever change, even in the direst of economic climates: "Young men are still falling in love and they want to buy the best ring to showcase their love for their future bride."
But, what's a young (or not-so-young) man in love and ready to pledge his troth to do when his bank account is lean and job prospects are even slimmer? He may want to hit some of the local Harrisonburg jewelry stores. Those stores - some of which have served several generations of Valley families - have a variety of options to fit most prospective grooms' budgets, while pleasing the blushing bride-to-be.
Read the whole story at: www.rocktownweekly.com
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But, what's a young (or not-so-young) man in love and ready to pledge his troth to do when his bank account is lean and job prospects are even slimmer? He may want to hit some of the local Harrisonburg jewelry stores. Those stores - some of which have served several generations of Valley families - have a variety of options to fit most prospective grooms' budgets, while pleasing the blushing bride-to-be.
Read the whole story at: www.rocktownweekly.com
Diamond Vintage Engagement Rings Online
If you’re looking and wanting to buy Diamond Vintage Engagement Rings, one thing you need to be prepared for is your budget. Although this piece of jewelry could be very expensive, you can be assured of its classiness and timelessness.You do not necessarily have to go anywhere far just in order for you to buy diamond vintage engagement rings of your choice. All you have to do is browse for all the options that you have online and check which one you would like to surprise your soon-to-be wife with. You can even have the piece of jewelry of your choice delivered right at the comfort of your very home and you can even have it shipped free of charge.
From: www.dottorweb.com
From: www.dottorweb.com
Protect your personal property
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 6:14 AM EST
While are all concerned about identity theft, protecting our social security number, and reducing the risk of credit card fraud, we are completely forgetting about protecting our personal property. Every year, I evaluate 20,000 objects both at public programs and in private homes. Many people are leaving themselves vulnerable when it comes to the items that we have collected over a lifetime. Based on actual events, here are some tips to protect your property—old and new.
Dr. Lori's Tips for Protecting Your Personal Property
1. Don't advertise.
I can't tell you how many times I have been presenting one of my public events and all of a sudden I'll see a person whip out a miniature photo album filled with pictures of nearly every valuable item they own. They start showing it to the person sitting next to them in the crowd. Likely, someone they hardly know. They flip through the pages recounting how or when they acquired that oil painting, pair of crystal vases, or piece of estate jewelry. As they move toward the refreshment table and share their album with someone else, the first person is asking another person where the "album lady" lives. I see this happening in the produce dept of the grocery store, at the library, and in a litany of other places. Remember the old saying "Loose lips, Sink ships" from American history class?
Read the rest of this interesting article at: www.phoenixvillenews.com
While are all concerned about identity theft, protecting our social security number, and reducing the risk of credit card fraud, we are completely forgetting about protecting our personal property. Every year, I evaluate 20,000 objects both at public programs and in private homes. Many people are leaving themselves vulnerable when it comes to the items that we have collected over a lifetime. Based on actual events, here are some tips to protect your property—old and new.
Dr. Lori's Tips for Protecting Your Personal Property
1. Don't advertise.
I can't tell you how many times I have been presenting one of my public events and all of a sudden I'll see a person whip out a miniature photo album filled with pictures of nearly every valuable item they own. They start showing it to the person sitting next to them in the crowd. Likely, someone they hardly know. They flip through the pages recounting how or when they acquired that oil painting, pair of crystal vases, or piece of estate jewelry. As they move toward the refreshment table and share their album with someone else, the first person is asking another person where the "album lady" lives. I see this happening in the produce dept of the grocery store, at the library, and in a litany of other places. Remember the old saying "Loose lips, Sink ships" from American history class?
Read the rest of this interesting article at: www.phoenixvillenews.com
Gold diggers scan the land
Metal-detecting club is on the trail of treasure
Lancaster New Era
Published: Feb 06, 2009
Waving their metal detectors over the ground like magic wands, the members of the Lancaster Research & Recovery Club turn lost into found. Leon and Leona Ogden have dug up more than 400 rings and thousands of coins.
George Hickman unearthed a Civil War-era silver pocket watch and antique toy soldier. And Paul Means has discovered handfuls of jewelry lost in the surf. Sometimes, though, when club members put their beeping metal divining rods into service, the only result is soda-can pull tabs.
But even they have value to a seasoned searcher. The club donates pull tabs to the Ronald McDonald House, which takes the tabs to a recycling center as a fundraising project.
But it's not always the bounty — whether it be pull tabs or pennies, or even evidence in criminal cases — that keeps these detectors on the trail of treasure.
Read the whole story at: articles.lancasteronline.com
Lancaster New Era
Published: Feb 06, 2009
Waving their metal detectors over the ground like magic wands, the members of the Lancaster Research & Recovery Club turn lost into found. Leon and Leona Ogden have dug up more than 400 rings and thousands of coins.
George Hickman unearthed a Civil War-era silver pocket watch and antique toy soldier. And Paul Means has discovered handfuls of jewelry lost in the surf. Sometimes, though, when club members put their beeping metal divining rods into service, the only result is soda-can pull tabs.
But even they have value to a seasoned searcher. The club donates pull tabs to the Ronald McDonald House, which takes the tabs to a recycling center as a fundraising project.
But it's not always the bounty — whether it be pull tabs or pennies, or even evidence in criminal cases — that keeps these detectors on the trail of treasure.
Read the whole story at: articles.lancasteronline.com
A BRIEF HISTORY OF TURQUOISE AND ITS USE IN JEWELLERY MAKING.
Turquoise is a beautiful stone and is steeped in legends and mystery.
The history and the legends of "Turquoise" goes back in time more than 6000 years. Archaeological and legendary indications go beyond the Christian period of 400bc. The beautiful natural Turquoise stone was discovered in tombs of ancient Egypt, especially the famous four bracelets of the great Queen Zar were found on her mummified arm.
These stones in these Turquoise bracelets date back to the time of the second rule of the first dynasty of Egypt, sometime during 5500 BC Both Aristotle and Pliny mention the stone Turquoise in there writings. Marco Polo has also written about Turquoise as well. Turquoise has always been regarded as the cornerstone of life.
It also has a long history of over 1,000 years with the Native Americans who made extensive use of Turquoise in the safety and therapeutic measures. Turquoise was used in religious rituals, art, conducting business, a treaty of consultations, and jewellery. The use of Turquoise as a therapeutic stone is well known, it ha been used for people who suffered from headaches and eye problems and also used in curing fevers and headaches.
From: www.articlealley.com
The history and the legends of "Turquoise" goes back in time more than 6000 years. Archaeological and legendary indications go beyond the Christian period of 400bc. The beautiful natural Turquoise stone was discovered in tombs of ancient Egypt, especially the famous four bracelets of the great Queen Zar were found on her mummified arm.
These stones in these Turquoise bracelets date back to the time of the second rule of the first dynasty of Egypt, sometime during 5500 BC Both Aristotle and Pliny mention the stone Turquoise in there writings. Marco Polo has also written about Turquoise as well. Turquoise has always been regarded as the cornerstone of life.
It also has a long history of over 1,000 years with the Native Americans who made extensive use of Turquoise in the safety and therapeutic measures. Turquoise was used in religious rituals, art, conducting business, a treaty of consultations, and jewellery. The use of Turquoise as a therapeutic stone is well known, it ha been used for people who suffered from headaches and eye problems and also used in curing fevers and headaches.
From: www.articlealley.com
Antique jewelry at Malleries
The Little Brussels Antiques
DEALER SHOWCASE
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Guest Book for Betsy's Wedding
These photos are not great. I shot them late and
night and the lighting was not very good--to lazy to
set up the photo box.
Betsy designed the template for the inside pages
that her guests would sign and had them printed.
We picked up the emblem that was on her wedding
invitation, enlarged it, and used it on the cover with
a black velvet back ground and the two "B's" glittered.
The paper for the cover also matched a design that
was on Betsy's invitation (a coincidence -- I found the
paper at Hobby Lobby).
Inside front cover. I scanned the invitation and
made it smaller so it could be displayed in her book.
A "plain" page (no photos) with just some sparkly
hearts at the bottom was used for every other-page
in the book.
Betsy shared some photos that she had and I just
selected a few to add some "fun" to the book for the
guests as they were signing their names. Note:
The circle around the cut-out photo is made with
rhinestones.
Betsy's colors were black, silver, and hot pink. I
found some great rub-ons in pink to add to the effect.
Cary Bates, http://www.carybatesphotography.com/,
took most (if not all) of the photos I used. I changed
them to a sepia tone for the book.
For the "envelope," I scanned the front side of the
wedding invitation envelope and used the back side
for a personal note to Betsy and Barron. You may
not be able to see it, but the postage stamp is a photo
of Betsy and Barron. I messed it up a little and bent it
so it would like it had been sent in the mail. I punched
a hole in it and slipped it in one of the rings at the end
of the book.
A Best Wishes Book for Sharon
A "Best Wishes" book can be given instead of a
card--with additional pages being added as special
events occur. I usually use large rings so it will take
a while to fill the book. For Sharon's book I mostly
used papers in dull pink with distress inks to age it a
little.
When old is new again
If you've started to think about shopping for spring, Elaine Klausman has one suggestion - look to the past.
Klausman deals in vintage clothing and accessories and can't help but suggest a kicky Suzy Perette sundress or a sleek-and-sleeveless Halston gown.
"I look for great style. That's the important thing," she says, showing off these items and more on a recent afternoon in her Bedford home.
This weekend, Klausman will be one of some 25 dealers exhibiting at the inaugural Valentine's Vintage Fashion Show and Sale at the DoubleTree Hotel in Tarrytown.
The two-day event is designed to put the spotlight on vintage clothing, accessories, textiles and jewelry from the Victorian era through the 1980s.
From: lohud.com
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Klausman deals in vintage clothing and accessories and can't help but suggest a kicky Suzy Perette sundress or a sleek-and-sleeveless Halston gown.
"I look for great style. That's the important thing," she says, showing off these items and more on a recent afternoon in her Bedford home.
This weekend, Klausman will be one of some 25 dealers exhibiting at the inaugural Valentine's Vintage Fashion Show and Sale at the DoubleTree Hotel in Tarrytown.
The two-day event is designed to put the spotlight on vintage clothing, accessories, textiles and jewelry from the Victorian era through the 1980s.
From: lohud.com
Historical Jewelry – Rare Masterpieces
Jewelry is one of the most eminent accessories that embed ones personality in a beautiful way. And when they present themselves as a gift for occasions like wedding or engagement, they become the symbol of love and commitment. They play a vital role in the lives of women and one cannot imagine life without these beautification elements.
Although we have contemporary designs in jewelry, however, historical jewelry can never lose its incomparable charm. They are simply the treasures of the vivid past and are generally associated with the era of bygone beauty. It has phenomenal aura that lures attention of people towards it. And that is why it never goes out of trend and is considered in the category of evergreen historical jewelry.
Read the whole story at: articlesbase.com
Mystery Shrouds Discovery of Aztec Mass Grave Site
The discovery of 49 bodies in the ruins of one of the Aztecs' final points of resistance against Spanish conquistadors has raised many questions.
Burial Reflects Mixture of Traditions
Found by a team of archeologists in the ruins of a palace complex in the Tlatelolco area, not far from the Aztec Empire capital of Tenochtitlan, the bodies were entombed using aspects of both local and Spanish traditions, even though they are thought to have died in the midst of Spain’s conquest of the region.
Laid on their backs, with their arms crossed on their chest, according to Christian tradition of the time, the bodies were also buried with ornaments and jewelry that predated the arrival of Spaniards, keeping with Aztec rules of burial.
Read the whole story at: www.findingdulcinea.com
Jewelry a unique way to show your personality
When it comes to jewelry, there are some things you should know before you go out and spend a great deal of money.
You can often improve the way you look with jewelry. There have been many archeological finds involving jewelry - notably broaches. These appear to have shown the owners status rather than beautifying him or her. Nowadays jewelry is still used to denote wealth and status- a large diamond ring or ostentatious necklace does not necessarily make the wearer appear better, it just says ‘look at me - I have loads of cash.’ However, Articles that enhance the wearers appearance are often the most admired and often have been given with love or affection.
Read the whole story at: jlperet.com
You can often improve the way you look with jewelry. There have been many archeological finds involving jewelry - notably broaches. These appear to have shown the owners status rather than beautifying him or her. Nowadays jewelry is still used to denote wealth and status- a large diamond ring or ostentatious necklace does not necessarily make the wearer appear better, it just says ‘look at me - I have loads of cash.’ However, Articles that enhance the wearers appearance are often the most admired and often have been given with love or affection.
Read the whole story at: jlperet.com
Rice of the City-States
By about 3200 BC, Jordan had developed a relatively urban character. Many settlements were established during the Early Bronze Age (c. 3200-1950 BC) in various parts of Jordan, both in the Jordan Valley and on higher ground.
Many of the villages built during this time included defensive fortifications to protect the inhabitants from marauding nomadic tribes still inhabiting the region. Water was channeled from one place to another and precautions were even taken against earthquakes and floods.
Interesting changes took place in burial customs during this period. At Bab al-Dhra, a well-preserved site in Wadi Araba, archeologists have discovered over 20,000 shat tombs with multiple chambers. These tombs are thought to have contained the remains of 200,000 corpses. There also charnel houses of mud-brick containing human bones, pots, jewelry and weapons. The hundreds of dolmens scattered throughout the mountains of Jordan are dated to the late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze ages. It is possible that the dolmens are evidence of new peoples from the north bringing with them different burial traditions.
Read more at: jordan-net.blogspot.com
Many of the villages built during this time included defensive fortifications to protect the inhabitants from marauding nomadic tribes still inhabiting the region. Water was channeled from one place to another and precautions were even taken against earthquakes and floods.
Interesting changes took place in burial customs during this period. At Bab al-Dhra, a well-preserved site in Wadi Araba, archeologists have discovered over 20,000 shat tombs with multiple chambers. These tombs are thought to have contained the remains of 200,000 corpses. There also charnel houses of mud-brick containing human bones, pots, jewelry and weapons. The hundreds of dolmens scattered throughout the mountains of Jordan are dated to the late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze ages. It is possible that the dolmens are evidence of new peoples from the north bringing with them different burial traditions.
Read more at: jordan-net.blogspot.com
Gem Museum In Myanmar Capital To Boost Tourism
YANGON, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- A gem museum will soon emerge in Myanmar's new capital of Nay Pyi Taw after a year's construction and the emergence will help boost the country's tourism, China's Xinhua news agency quoted a local daily as reporting Wednesday.
With an area of 12.5 acres (5.06 hectares), the three-storey museum will display Myanmar's world famous gems, jade, pearl and jewelry, the local weekly journal Pyi Myanmar said.
The new gem museum stands the second of its kind next to Yangon's.
In Yangon, there is a gem mart attached with the first gem museum as well as a convention center where Myanmar holds its gem sale all year round on different occasions, displaying a variety of the quality items for sale on the basis of competitive bidding and tender systems.
Myanmar started to hold gem shows annually in 1964, introducing the mid-year one in 1992 and the special one in 2004.
The gem traders mostly came from China, China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Thailand.
There are six mining areas in Myanmar under gem and jade exploration, namely, Mogok, Mongshu, Lonkin/Phakant, Khamhti, Moenyin and Namyar.
Myanmar, a well-known producer of gems in the world, boasts ruby, diamond, cat's eye, emerald, topaz, pearl, sapphire, coral and a variety of garnet tinged with yellow.
The authorities designated the proceeds from the sale of gems at these emporiums as legal export earning to encourage the private sector in the development of the gem industry.
Of Myanmar's US$6.043 billion exports in 2007-08, gem products stood the third after natural gas and agricultural produces with US$647.53 million, according to official statistics.
The government's Central Statistical Organization also revealed that in the fiscal year 2007-08, Myanmar produced 20,235 tons of jade and 22.668 million carats of gems which include ruby, sapphire, spinel and peridot, as well as 225,611 mommis (846 kg) of pearl.
From: BERNAMA
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With an area of 12.5 acres (5.06 hectares), the three-storey museum will display Myanmar's world famous gems, jade, pearl and jewelry, the local weekly journal Pyi Myanmar said.
The new gem museum stands the second of its kind next to Yangon's.
In Yangon, there is a gem mart attached with the first gem museum as well as a convention center where Myanmar holds its gem sale all year round on different occasions, displaying a variety of the quality items for sale on the basis of competitive bidding and tender systems.
Myanmar started to hold gem shows annually in 1964, introducing the mid-year one in 1992 and the special one in 2004.
The gem traders mostly came from China, China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Thailand.
There are six mining areas in Myanmar under gem and jade exploration, namely, Mogok, Mongshu, Lonkin/Phakant, Khamhti, Moenyin and Namyar.
Myanmar, a well-known producer of gems in the world, boasts ruby, diamond, cat's eye, emerald, topaz, pearl, sapphire, coral and a variety of garnet tinged with yellow.
The authorities designated the proceeds from the sale of gems at these emporiums as legal export earning to encourage the private sector in the development of the gem industry.
Of Myanmar's US$6.043 billion exports in 2007-08, gem products stood the third after natural gas and agricultural produces with US$647.53 million, according to official statistics.
The government's Central Statistical Organization also revealed that in the fiscal year 2007-08, Myanmar produced 20,235 tons of jade and 22.668 million carats of gems which include ruby, sapphire, spinel and peridot, as well as 225,611 mommis (846 kg) of pearl.
From: BERNAMA
Schaduwjuwelen
13/02/2009
Van schaduwtheater en ornamenten tot de inktvlekken van de psychologische Rorschachtest, het zijn allemaal inspiratiebronnen van de Finse juweelontwerpster Anna Rikkinen.
In de poëtische installatie A Room for Shadows, die Rikkinen nu tentoonstelt in galerie Caroline Van Hoek in Brussel, versmelten de uiteenlopende thema's tot een geheel. Herkenbare silhouetten van stereotiepe meubels, ornamenten en juwelen zijn uitgevoerd in dun zilver en grijs karton, waardoor de ontwerpster een vervreemdend effect creëert. De installatie verwijst naar verdwenen historische objecten en barokke decoratievormen, een beetje zoals het spoor dat schilderijen na jaren achterlaten op een muur. Voor alle duidelijkheid: de getoonde juwelen zijn stuk voor stuk ook draagbaar.
Evelien Bracke
Anna Rikkinen, tot 28 februari bij Caroline Van Hoek Contemporary Art Jewelry, Van Eyckstraat 57, 1050 Brussel. Van donderdag tot zaterdag, van 14.30 tot 19 uur. Info: 02 644 45 11.
From: www.knack.be
Masonic Victorian brooch with pendant
Masonic Victorian brooch with pendant
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In our trade of antique jewelry we frequently come along pieces that once were made (and bought) for their symbolic meaning. Over the years (and generations) the knowledge of those specific symbols faded away and what remains is “just a pretty piece”. As was the case with this jewel.
We had this brooch on-line for about a month when we received a mail from a customer explaining us the history of this jewel. He told us that this is not “just a pretty brooch” but a jewel that was given to the spouses of English Freemasons who contributed to the Royal Masonic Hospital. The men were given a silver ribbon jewel. Eventually the use of precious metals was abandoned in favor of silver and gold colored base metals. The last of these jewels were handed out around the 1950's.
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around 5 million, with around 480,000 in England, Scotland and Ireland alone, and just under two million in the United States. The various forms all share moral and metaphysical ideals, which include, in most cases, a constitutional declaration of belief in a Supreme Being.
Antiqualy yours,
The Adin team
www.adin.be
Elegance of Victorian era to go on display at Cherry Valley museum
Victorian artifacts from purses to pitchers are part of the Victorian Splendor exhibit opening Saturday at the Edward-Dean Museum in Cherry Valley.
It will feature a collection of beaded purses dating from 1850 to 1900 that are owned by Jean Nemer, of the San Diego area. Redlands-area collectors also contributed items, including furnishings and jewelry from the same period.
The purses, several of which were displayed a few years ago at the Redlands Historical Glass Museum, are festooned with glass beads and fastened with clasps of silver or gold. Some are clutches and others hang from beaded straps.
Nemer began collecting beaded purses more than 30 years ago in Chicago. She now has more than 100, spanning 100 years from the 1850s to the 1950s.
"I find them a fascinating and very feminine accessory," Nemer said.
The exhibit depicts the elegance of life in the Victorian era. Items lent by Chris and Yuki Johnson, of Redlands, include a ceramic bride's bowl, delicately painted and set into a silver chariot with angels at its front and back.
Also from the Johnsons' collection are a metal urn in Egyptian Revival style and an elegant silver pitcher.
Jimmi Mitchell, of Redlands, contributed a carved wooden Victorian corner chair with an original needlepoint cushion. Several wedding gowns are on display, along with a collection of salt cellars and delicate miniature glass vases belonging to Helen Saults, of Palm Springs.
VICTORIAN SPLENDOR
An exhibit of Victorian era artifacts, called Victorian Splendor, will open this weekend at the Edward-Dean Museum.
Opening reception: 2-4 p.m. Saturday. Free admission.
Where: 9401 Oak Glen Road, Cherry Valley.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Admission: $3 adults, $2 seniors and students, children 12 and younger free.
Information: www.edward-deanmuseum.org or 951-845-2626.
From: www.pe.com/
Unique Beaded Jewelry Shows Off Your Personal Style
Of the many types of jewelry that are in existence beaded jewelry has been around the longest. Beaded jewelry is a form of handmade costume jewelry, and the terms are mostly used in a mutually exchangeable fashion. History shows that even Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, used this jewelry whenever it pleased her to. So don't look down on the items of beaded jewelry you see in stores and marketplaces.
Read more at: lex-load.blogspot.com
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Read more at: lex-load.blogspot.com
NYC cultural and jewelry related
CityGuideMagazine.com Listings:
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center - 02/28/09 - 03/02/09
655 West 34th Street
Over three days, the Artexpo showcases over 500 national and international artists, galleries and publishers. Visitors can view and purchase paintings, drawings, sculpture, mixed media, art, books, frames, jewelry and more.
Westport Youth Film Festival Fundraiser - 03/01/09
Tiffanys
Support WYFF by attending a brunch at Tiffany & Co. along with a screening of the classic film "Breakfast at Tiffany's." Four surprise jewelry packages have been donated by Tiffany & Co. for four attendees. Also enjoy informal modeling of jewelry by WYFF "Holly Golightlys" and listen to jazz and music performed by Damian Wiseman and Richard Kwan.
Brooklyn Public Library: Gerritsen Beach branch - 03/20/09
2808 Gerritsen Avenue
Teens learn how to make jewelry with beads.
Larchmont Public Library - 04/08/09
121 Larchmont Avenue
Put on your fancy clothes, enjoy the popular stories by Jane O'Connor, have a proper snack and create your own paper jewelry.
Nyack Chamber of Commerce - 04/26/09
Main Street and South Broadway
This annual street fair features nearly 200 vendors offering crafts, jewelry, art, photography, collectibles, antiques, specialty items, clothing, live entertainment, food and much more. Rain or shine. Check out their wares then stroll down by the river.
BRUCE MUSEUM - 05/16/09 - 05/17/09
One Museum Drive
Contemporary, functional crafts, including wood, ceramics, jewelry, fiber, metal, leather, and glass.
Cultural Arts:
- Art of the Past
1242 Madison Ave. (89-90 Sts.) - Forbes Galleries
62 Fifth Ave. (12 St.) - Museum of Arts & Design
2 Columbus Cir. (near Eighth Ave. & W. 58th St.) - Neue Galerie
1048 Fifth Ave. (86 St.)
Museums:
- Museum of Arts and Design
40 W. 53rd. St. (5-6 Aves.)
5,000 Years Of Jewelry Goes On Display
CHICAGO (WBBM) - If you can't afford to buy jewelry for your sweetheart this Valentine's Day, you can at least get a glimpse of 5,000 years of jewelry.
The Field Museum is opening a new exhibit today.
"Masterpieces of Ancient Jewelry: Exquisite Objects from the Cradle of Civilization" features 130 pieces uncovered by archeologists working in different parts of the Middle East.
Curator Karen Wilson says for the most part, jewelry hasn't changed much in 5,000 years.
Our ancestors, both men and women, wore rings, bracelets, necklaces and in some cases, a kind of girdle of jewelry around their hips.
Her favorites, she says, are the very colorful pieces from the 5,000 year-old city of Kish in Iraq. Whatever else has changed over millennia, she says, jewelry remains consistently desirable.
The exhibit, "Masterpieces of Ancient Jewelry", runs through July 5th at the Field Museum.
More information: www.fieldmuseum.org
From: www.wbbm780.com
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The Field Museum is opening a new exhibit today.
"Masterpieces of Ancient Jewelry: Exquisite Objects from the Cradle of Civilization" features 130 pieces uncovered by archeologists working in different parts of the Middle East.
Curator Karen Wilson says for the most part, jewelry hasn't changed much in 5,000 years.
Our ancestors, both men and women, wore rings, bracelets, necklaces and in some cases, a kind of girdle of jewelry around their hips.
Her favorites, she says, are the very colorful pieces from the 5,000 year-old city of Kish in Iraq. Whatever else has changed over millennia, she says, jewelry remains consistently desirable.
The exhibit, "Masterpieces of Ancient Jewelry", runs through July 5th at the Field Museum.
More information: www.fieldmuseum.org
From: www.wbbm780.com
Book Review: Tackling the Mystery of a 2,000-Year-Old Computer
The trouble with the history of ancient civilizations is that they've left us debris, and from the piles of bits and pieces we try to reconstruct who the people really were and how they lived.
The usual line about the ancient Greeks is that they were good talkers and philosophers and sculptors and sailors but miserable scientists and technologists. Except, of course, for Archimedes, who outclassed everyone of his time in science and engineering.
Most popular historical lines about antiquity sooner or later get revised. In 1901, halfway between Crete and the Greek mainland, Greek sponge divers discovered an ancient Greek sunken ship off the rocky island of Antikythera. From that ship came statues, pottery, glassware, jewelry, coins--and also a corroded lump of bronze later separated into three corroded pieces. The pieces lay around for most of the 20th century, until in the 1970s they were subjected to x-ray analysis that shocked archaeologists and historians alike. The pieces contained the remnants of an elaborate device, a system of 30 cogwheels laid on cogwheels, and after much study the consensus decision was that the Antikythera Mechanism, as it came to be called, was in fact an ancient analog computer.
Read the rest of this interesting article at: www.huffingtonpost.com
reade more...
The usual line about the ancient Greeks is that they were good talkers and philosophers and sculptors and sailors but miserable scientists and technologists. Except, of course, for Archimedes, who outclassed everyone of his time in science and engineering.
Most popular historical lines about antiquity sooner or later get revised. In 1901, halfway between Crete and the Greek mainland, Greek sponge divers discovered an ancient Greek sunken ship off the rocky island of Antikythera. From that ship came statues, pottery, glassware, jewelry, coins--and also a corroded lump of bronze later separated into three corroded pieces. The pieces lay around for most of the 20th century, until in the 1970s they were subjected to x-ray analysis that shocked archaeologists and historians alike. The pieces contained the remnants of an elaborate device, a system of 30 cogwheels laid on cogwheels, and after much study the consensus decision was that the Antikythera Mechanism, as it came to be called, was in fact an ancient analog computer.
Read the rest of this interesting article at: www.huffingtonpost.com
Ancient Jewelry
Bust of a King, Kish East, Sasanian Period (AD 224 - 637), Photograph by John Weinstein © The Field Museum. The Kish Expedition excavated seven buildings whose walls were embellished with elaborate stucco decoration. The figure shown here is that of a Sasanian king, identified by his crown as either Shapur II (A.D. 310-379) or Bahram V (A.D. 420-438).
CHICAGO.- The Field Museum presents Masterpieces of Ancient Jewelry: Exquisite Objects from the Cradle of Civilization, on view through July 5, 2009. A rich array of jewelry from the ancient Near East, Masterpieces of Ancient Jewelry: Exquisite Objects from the Cradle of Civilization, will be featured in The Field Museum’s new T. Kimball and Nancy N. Brooker Gallery this spring. Since ancient times, jewelry has been worn as adornment, memento, and a sign of status. The exquisite artifacts presented in this exhibition, some more than 7,000 years old, illuminate the culture and customs of ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Levant, Persia and the Islamic Middle East.
The Field Museum is pleased to partner once again with the National Jewelry Institute, organizers of Masterpieces of Ancient Jewelry. This prestigious exhibition features artifacts from renowned collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Princeton University Art Museum and the Israel Museum. In addition to the breathtaking jewelry, the exhibition features maps and illustrations that place the jewelry in historical and cultural context.
Additionally, several key pieces from The Field Museum’s collection will be on display complementing the exhibition. The Field Museum’s remarkable collection of 23,000 artifacts from the 5,000-year-old city of Kish, Iraq has been viewed and studied by scholars worldwide. These pieces were excavated between 1923 and 1933 by scientists from both The Field Museum and Oxford University. From at least 3200 BC through the 7th century AD, Kish held an extraordinary position in Mesopotamian history.
This exhibition is free with paid general admission to The Field Museum. Ticket prices can be found online at www.fieldmuseum.org/plan_visit.
From: www.diamond-celebrity.com
From: www.diamond-celebrity.com
What is meant by ‘authentic’ Celtic jewellery?
Torcs like these necklaces were worn 2000 years ago in Celtic cultures. Photo by Helen Etheridge - CC-BY
Dictionaries say authentic means genuine, but how much does that help when browsing Celtic jewellery stores? A strict interpretation of the word would leave us nothing but ancient gold, silver, and bronze belonging to museums.
Many people choosing this kind of jewellery simply want pieces influenced by Celtic traditions in tune with their beliefs and tastes. Maybe something to celebrate Irish, or Scottish, or Breton heritage - or touching memories of a place they once knew.
For some, Celtic arts and crafts are full of mythological or mystical meaning. Perhaps they are interested in Irish legends, early Christianity in Ireland or western Britain, or older pagan religions. Other people enjoy Celtic music, languages or cultural history, and appreciate related decorative arts.
To help you decide which jewellery passes your personal authenticity test, here are few things to consider.
Read the rest of this interesting story at: quezi.com
Minerals are crystals
The earliest forms of jewelry were items that early humans found naturally, such as shells or bits of bones. Early grave sites have also revealed that pre-historic man buried his dead with flowers and with carved ivory beads. These primitive beads would have taken at least an hour each to make.
Early man also might have found bits of turquoise that occurred naturally in areas of Turkey and North America. The pearlescent swirls found inside an abalone or conch would have also been used as jewelry.
Read the whole story at: www.jewelryvillageonline.com
Necklace Of The Spanish Inquisition
The Spanish Inquisition Necklace is a diamond and emerald-studded necklace. As of 2008, it is on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., United States. It was given its name by Harry Winston, the American jeweller who acquired it from the Maharaja of Indore, and has no known connection with the historical Spanish Inquisition.
Provenance
The emeralds threaded onto the necklace were originally mined in Colombia. The diamonds were mined in India. While the necklace's gemstones are believed to have been cut in India in the 17th century,the early history of the necklace itself is unknown. American jeweller Harry Winston, who named the necklace, claimed that it was owned first by Spanish royalty. However, the first recorded owner of the piece was Tukoji Rao III, Maharaja of Indore, then a Princely State within India, in the early 20th century. Upon his abdication, the necklace was passed to his son, Yashvantrao II, who took up his father's throne.
In 1947, Yashvantrao sold the necklace to Harry Winston. Winston loaned the necklace out that year to actress Katharine Hepburn, who wore it to the 19th Academy Awards ceremony. The necklace formed part of Winston's "Court of Jewels", a nationally touring exhibition of jewels and jewellery including the Hope Diamond and the Star of the East. In 1955, Winston sold the necklace to Cora Hubbard Williams of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Williams held the necklace until 1972, when she bequeathed it to the Smithsonian Institution. Since then, it has been on display in the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals of the National Museum of Natural History in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C.
Design
The upper half of the necklace consists of many small diamonds threaded onto a silver chain. The lower half of the necklace is divided into two concentric semi-circular strands, each carrying eight pairs of "football-shaped" diamonds and four pairs of barrel-cut emeralds, arranged symmetrically. The centre of the lower strand holds a large emerald supporting a pendant which itself holds five smaller emeralds. The point where the upper and lower halves of the necklace join is marked by two large emeralds threaded onto the chain. Altogether, there are 15 emeralds and 374 diamonds in the necklace. The diamonds of the Spanish Inquisition Necklace are the oldest examples of cut diamonds in the Smithsonian Institution's National Gem Collection.
From: www.wikipedia.org
What Do Wedding Rings Speak About?
There is a rich history behind how wedding rings got introduced in the Christian way of life. It wasn't until the days of Pope Innocent III that couples were asked to wear two rings, one during engagements and the other while finally being married. Families offered rings just to seal engagements prior to this historical pronouncement by the Pope. He also asked the engaged couples to observe a waiting period before they could finally marry. These orthodox dictates slowly grew into colorful traditions, as Christianity traversed across the world over a period of many centuries.
Wedding rings are normally placed on left ring fingers of couples from the USA, France, Sweden and the UK. They are placed on right ring fingers however, in the case of Germany, Spain, India, and Chile. Interestingly, while Jews traditionally place wedding rings on their left hands, like the orthodox Christians, they prefer wearing it on the right ones after being married. There are also varying for the period when one of the partners has died. This universally gets deemed to be the end of any wedding concerned in most societies. However, much of this differentiation of norms might stem from the fact, which part of the world you were looking at.
A hardened alloy of Gold, Bismuth, Tin and Copper is often made use of in manufacturing wedding rings. Sometimes Platinum, Nickel and Titanium are also introduced varying results. Platinum is mixed up with white gold for manufacturing a separate class of Platinum wedding rings. Similarly Titanium and Tungsten carbide are also used to produce durability, affordability, varying textures and shades of eye-catching ring designs.
However, less costly metals like Silver, Brass and Copper are scarcely used compared to the more expensive ones due to the former's corrosiveness. Aluminum and some other toxic metals are hardly ever made use of in the manufacture of either wedding rings or similar other ornaments. However, the widest and cheapest known alloy of modern world, stainless steel, is surprisingly gaining ground as one of the options these days. Its durability, which is at par with that of Platinum and Titanium, could be attributed for this wondrous growth.
Retail shops may normally quote wedding rings at $600 and more, but could easily be procured at lower rates from various online resources. A brief look at some of the existing jewelry sites might how they were selling most jewelry items at a reduced cost, including those from the latest wedding rings. These websites could easily meet with the demands of all market segments, starting from the casual jewelry buyer to the seeker of high-end ornaments.
From: www.msokorea.com
Wedding rings are normally placed on left ring fingers of couples from the USA, France, Sweden and the UK. They are placed on right ring fingers however, in the case of Germany, Spain, India, and Chile. Interestingly, while Jews traditionally place wedding rings on their left hands, like the orthodox Christians, they prefer wearing it on the right ones after being married. There are also varying for the period when one of the partners has died. This universally gets deemed to be the end of any wedding concerned in most societies. However, much of this differentiation of norms might stem from the fact, which part of the world you were looking at.
A hardened alloy of Gold, Bismuth, Tin and Copper is often made use of in manufacturing wedding rings. Sometimes Platinum, Nickel and Titanium are also introduced varying results. Platinum is mixed up with white gold for manufacturing a separate class of Platinum wedding rings. Similarly Titanium and Tungsten carbide are also used to produce durability, affordability, varying textures and shades of eye-catching ring designs.
However, less costly metals like Silver, Brass and Copper are scarcely used compared to the more expensive ones due to the former's corrosiveness. Aluminum and some other toxic metals are hardly ever made use of in the manufacture of either wedding rings or similar other ornaments. However, the widest and cheapest known alloy of modern world, stainless steel, is surprisingly gaining ground as one of the options these days. Its durability, which is at par with that of Platinum and Titanium, could be attributed for this wondrous growth.
Retail shops may normally quote wedding rings at $600 and more, but could easily be procured at lower rates from various online resources. A brief look at some of the existing jewelry sites might how they were selling most jewelry items at a reduced cost, including those from the latest wedding rings. These websites could easily meet with the demands of all market segments, starting from the casual jewelry buyer to the seeker of high-end ornaments.
From: www.msokorea.com
Diamonds in the Chemical Perspective
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| BSN Stock Photo |
When we hear of the word diamond, we immediately associate it with a worldly and expensive piece of jewellery. Diamond is indeed precious. It has outstanding characteristics that would be envied by other minerals and gemstones. Let us take a closer look at a diamond’s features.
In its chemical structure, the chemical formula for diamond is just plain “C”. This is because a diamond’s molecule is made up of multiple atoms of Carbon which are tightly yet systematically arranged in covalent bonds. This arrangement makes it a very stable molecule. The fact that diamond are only made up of only one type of element makes it the hardest naturally occurring mineral on earth. In the Mohs hardness scale for minerals, diamonds is given the lone perfect ‘10’. The second hardest mineral considered is the gemstone Sapphire which has a chemical formula of “Al2O3”.
Read the whole story at: www.bestsyndication.com
Read the whole story at: www.bestsyndication.com
Chinese Faux jade
In almost all dictionaries, the Chinese character 'yù' is translated into English as 'jade'. However, this frequently leads to misunderstanding: Chinese, Koreans, and Westerners alike generally fail to appreciate that the cultural concept of 'jade' is considerably broader in China and Korea than in the West. A more accurate translation for this character on its own would be 'precious/ornamental rock'. It is seldom, if ever, used on its own to denote 'true' jade in Mandarin Chinese; for example, one would normally refer to 'ying yu' ( 'hard jade') for jadeite, or 'ruan yu' ( 'soft jade') for nephrite. The Chinese names for many ornamental non-jade rocks also incorporate the character 'yù', and it is widely understood by native speakers that such stones are not, in fact, true precious nephrite or jadeite. Even so, for commercial reasons, the names of such stones may well still be translated into English as 'jade', and this practice continues to confuse the unwary.
From:chinese-jewelry-and-jade.blogspot.com
From:chinese-jewelry-and-jade.blogspot.com
Growing Up with Ronnie
This great little book, "Growing Up with Ronnie"
was made by Barbie Long. The "book" is an altered
Reader's Digest Condensed edition. Barbie's little
book is all about growing up with her brother, and
was given as a gift to his children.
was made by Barbie Long. The "book" is an altered
Reader's Digest Condensed edition. Barbie's little
book is all about growing up with her brother, and
was given as a gift to his children.