Epic Jewelley and Contemporary Designs

Beginning with the concepts of jewellery in pre-history and how adornment styles have changed over time right through to modern day, identify patterns in jewellery over time, and the timeless aspects of design that persist throughout every major design period in order to take inspiration from the past while remaining relevant in today’s fashions.

Throughout the course you will come to understand cycles of popularity that affect gemstones, metals and jewellery styles as well as reviewing several modern-day short-term fashion trends to gain further insight into the design process.

This 34 hour program includes course material including many relevant handouts and examples of historical and contemporary designs.

Course Synopsis:

1. Overview of the important periods relating to Jewellery

A necessary starting point for studying history is an understanding of how historians classify significant periods. Learn how and why jewellery designers look to specific time periods and geographic zones for their inspiration and how to research these epochs.

2. The Earliest Jewellery: from 25000 BC to the Bronze Age

The first tribes of human hunter-gatherers created simple jewellery for adornment and to harness the magic believed to be in beautiful stones. By the end of the Mesolithic period, craftsmanship had developed and many early jewellery styles could already be seen!

3. The Ancient World: 3000BC to 700AD

As the trade of jewellery and decorative items developed, so did the quality of craftmaship and attention to detail. The ancient world saw the emergence of master craftspeople, dedicated to the production of jewellery.

4. Jewellery of the Middle Ages: 800AD to 1500AD

With the rise of Christianity and growth of the Roman Empire, the overwhelming majority of popular jewellery from this period has substantial religious or royal themes. Important Asiatic contributions from China, the Indian Subcontinent and African cultures are also noted. Manufacturing techniques and stone cutting styles improved dramatically in this period.

5. The Renaissance and Baroque periods: 16th and 17th Centuries

The renaissance or start of the ‘Modern Age’ saw the popularity of animal and naturalistic themes especially in the creation of pendants and brooches. ‘Baroque’ pearls earn their name from their popularity in jewellery from this period.

6. Rococo, Victorian and Belle Époque eras: 18th and 19th Centuries

The 18th and 19th centuries saw a burst of fashion trends associated with increased trade amongst the countries of Europe. Fads such as the ‘hair jewellery’ popular in the romantic period to mosaic jewellery, cameos, arabesques and other unique styles are all explored.

7. Art Nouveau: 1890 to 1914

The ‘new art’ movement was one of the first departures from classical art and design, towards a new modernism. Jewellery inspired by this movement focused on themes of nature and fantasy, incorporating flowing, organic shapes and floral motifs. Enamelling and elaborate wire work creations flourished during this time period.

8. Edwardian period: Early 20th Century

Following the conservative tastes of the Victorian era, the Edwardian period ushered in a new fondness for femininity and sensuality. Jewellery from this time incorporated intricate filigree, copious use of gemstones and the first popularity of the white metals platinum, palladium and rhodium.

9. Art Deco: 1920 to 1940

Perhaps the easiest jewellery style to identify, designers of this period used clean lines architectural themes to produce bold designs that incorporated gemstones and metals to achieve maximum contrast.

10. Retro period: 1940 to 1960

Following the glamour of the Art Deco period and the sudden onset of World War II, jewellery from this period tended to be oversized and often more masculine. As precious metals were used in the war effort and trade embargoes made gemstones scarce, jewellery designers turned to less precious materials for the jewellery of this period.

11. Contemporary and Present day Jewellery Trends: 1960 to date

With the experience and understanding of historical trends in jewellery, now explore how today’s designers establish or follow trends in fashion and jewellery. Trace recent colour, metal and style trends over 30 years to understand the cyclic nature of fashion.

12. Summary of Historical Influences and Future Trends

Bringing together the experiences of the course, learn what resources are available for further study and how to use industry experience to get a head-start on upcoming trends so as to produce up-to-date jewellery.