Design Inspirations

From the Past

Part 1 of a 5 part series.

 

All that was old is new again – at least when exploring historic trend-setting jewelry styles of the 19th and 20th centuries. Today’s jewelry designs often reflect this, using the same gemstones, shapes, and motifs of bygone eras. 

Victorian, 1837-1901
During the reign of England’s Queen Victoria, a variety of distinct styles became popular. The Early Victorian period (1837-1861) was characterized by romantic or sentimental symbols and reflected youth, courtship and marriage.  The motifs of this time were pansies, animals, for-get-me-nots, flowers, trefoils, grapes, hands, insects, starbursts, horseshoe, lizards, snakes, birds, and ivy.  The Mid-Victorian period (1861-1880), following the death of her husband Prince Albert, brought about mourning jewelry.  She was overwhelmed at his death and jewelry styles reflected this.  Black stones like jet and oak bog were common.  The styles included book chain necklaces, massive brooches and earrings.  The Late Victorian period (1880-1901) brought in the Industrial Revolution.  Jewelry could now be mass produced allowing the middle class to purchase these goods.  We saw lighter, more delicate items.  The most popular gemstones of this time were amethyst, aquamarine, chrysopraise, chrysoberyl, opal, moonstone, sapphires and rubies. Some Victorian jewelry was a revival of past cultures, and was inspired by ancient Greek, Etruscan, Roman, Egyptian, Gothic and Renaissance themes.