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 the past experience but also incorporated their own innovations and ideas. Each period has greatly shaped the 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 called the birthplace of enamel. Egyptians believed that the enamel jewelry created powerful visual experience and despite the social classes 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 the ancient Egypt, the enamel technology has improved greatly and reached its height in the 4th century during the Byzantine time, using mainly blue coating. During this period enamel jewelry became more gorgeous and popular even in Europe. After that, copper enamel jewelry replaced gold, hence reducing manufacturing costs.

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Renaissance (14-17th 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 received 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 the western civilizations and China. Craftsmen started exploring new motives, 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 motives of nature.

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