The history of enamel jewelry

​Hundreds of years have passed since the first enamel jewelry was made. During this time, designers created enamel jewelry inspired by previous enamellers. However, in their enamel artistry, they not only used past experience but also incorporated their own innovations and ideas. Each period has greatly shaped enamel craftsmanship. It’s interesting to learn about the history of enamel jewelry and different trends that characterized each period.

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Egypt (4000-345 BC)​

​​Ancient Egypt is considered to be the birthplace of enamel. Egyptians believed that enamel jewelry created a powerful visual experience, and despite the social class structure of Egypt, everyone wore them. Craftsmen used different kinds of metals such as gold, silver and copper and then coated them with enamel. 

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Byzantine enamel jewelry (395-1453)​

​​Thanks to the knowledge and experience from ancient Egypt, enamel technology has improved greatly and reached its height in the 4th century during the Byzantine time, when blue coating was primarily used. During this period enamel jewelry became more beautiful and popular even in Europe. Subsequently, copper enamel jewelry replaced gold, hence reducing manufacturing costs.

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Renaissance (14th-17th Century)

​The Renaissance period focused on cultural secularism, and everything became human centered (anthropocentrism). This new thinking was widely manifested in art, literature etc. The change also affected enamel design. It was a start of a new era in enamel art. Craftsmen gained much more freedom with their innovations and ideas and produced new types of forms, patterns and themes.

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Rococo (18th Century)

​Asymmetric forms and bright colors were dominant during the Rococo period.

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​New Art Movement (19th Century)

​The end of the 19th century marks the beginning of the cultural exchange and interaction between western civilizations and China. Craftsmen started exploring new motifs, mainly nature with all its components. That’s why it doesn’t come as a surprise that a lot of enamel jewelry was made based on motifs of nature.

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