Jewellery in Other Cultures

In Britain today it is typical to associate jewellery with special occasions such as weddings, gifts given to a person of importance, or as a symbol of belonging such as a cross worn around the neck.the first culture to make jewellery were the Chinese around 5000 years ago. Silver was more popular than gold and Jade was their favourite stone. The Chinese initially wore jewellery in order to display their wealth but later early tiara type pieces were worn by women to add to their beauty.Jewellery from this area was incredibly ornate however and included the combined use of gold with mother of pearl and amethyst inlayed. The Mayan civilization also used precious gems as a form of currency,Additionally, Judaism also has its typical designs such as the Star of David and the Hamesh Hand, a symbol that is traditionally believed to offer protection.In the 20th Century artists and designers have used the medium in order to convey their ideas, whilst even pop culture movements such as Hip-Hop have adopted 'Bling' as a symbol of success and musical prowess.Inhabitants of Myanmar wear rings from an early age that stretch the neck over a long period of time. Whereas in the African tribes of the Mursi Lip plates are worn to stretch the bottom lip which is traditional before marriage.