JEWELRY IN KING ARTHUR'S TIME
King Arthur was king of England in the early Middle Ages. Jewelry in his time was used not only for beauty but also for religious, status, and other cultural purposes. Silver was mined in Europe. Gold was usually obtained by melting down old Roman coins. Precious stones were generally imported from the East. Amber came from the Baltic Sea area. Pearls came from local oysters.
It was a time when the Roman Empire had recently collapsed and jewelry craft tried to imitate the art of ancient Rome. It was also a time when there was much conversion from the ancient Pagan religions of Europe to Christianity, and jewelry and other arts often employed religious symbols.
King Arthur was king of England in the early Middle Ages. Jewelry in his time was used not only for beauty but also for religious, status, and other cultural purposes. Silver was mined in Europe. Gold was usually obtained by melting down old Roman coins. Precious stones were generally imported from the East. Amber came from the Baltic Sea area. Pearls came from local oysters.
It was a time when the Roman Empire had recently collapsed and jewelry craft tried to imitate the art of ancient Rome. It was also a time when there was much conversion from the ancient Pagan religions of Europe to Christianity, and jewelry and other arts often employed religious symbols.
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The photo depicted here is of a modern handcrafted lampwork glass pendant named for the Lady of the Lake, a mysterious beautiful character in the King Arthur legends who in the story gave the sword, Excalibur, to King Arthur, proving him to be the rightful King of Britain. It is made by the Beadshaper and can be found at the Beadshaper's Gallery under Pendants.
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