Pearls have a very long history in jewellery, they have been prized for their natural beauty for millennia. They are now mostly a product of intensive farming. There are two ways of looking at this; either their value is on the wane, or more people can afford them in their jewellery. Here are fourteen curious pearl facts you might not know. Pearl History Pearls were initially hand fished by divers with no more equipment than…
The Celtic Torc is the crown jewel of the Iron Age world. This guide covers everything you need to know, what they were, who wore them, why, and how to make them. I’ve assembled what I’ve learnt so far in this post. Iron Age treasure hordes exert a powerful pull on me as a jeweller. The survival of 2000-year-old personal objects in almost perfect condition is an incredible thing and reminds me the impulse to…
Next time you go to a museum look at the jewellery. Not just at the beauty, craftsmanship or sparkle of the materials but at the space around it. That place where the body fits, the hole in the centre of a ring, the pin that goes through an ear, a clasp that secures around a neck. Then imagine who once wore that piece of jewellery. The once proximity of these objects to their wearers can…
Room 50 at the British Museum is full of treasure. It’s where the European Iron Age Celtic treasure hordes are displayed and where you will make an extraordinary connection with the humans who lived so long ago. There’s something about treasure, it has a real magic to it. You know what I mean, a really fascinating allure and it’s not just about all that gold and silver. Although our valuing of those precious metals over…
