Jewelery has always been an significant feature of several cultures and civilizations. It has been used as a form of personal adornment, currency or even as a display of wealth. Whatever it’s purpose, jewelery is one of the oldest forms of body adornment; recently found beads made from Nassarius (sea snail) shells are estimated to be 100, 000 years old and are thought to be the oldest example of jewelery. Historically, jewelery has too been worn as religious symbols into Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

In to recorded traditions of Islam the Prophet Mohammed permitted woman to wear jewellery for personal adornment however prohibited gold jewelery for men. Furthermore, any kind of depiction of animate objects into art and jewelery was as well prohibited.

Middle Eastern Jewelery during the pre-Islamic era was heavily influenced by the culture and rituals that were prevalent at the time. For example, jewelery designs in Ancient Egypt was based during the superstitious belief that some symbols could give the wearer a positive effect. Several normal symbols into Ancient Egyptian jewellery included the beetle, serpent, falcon, and also the eye. The beetle, as well known as scarab, was a symbol for good luck. Another symbol, the ‘Ankh’ represented eternal life.

Pre-Islamic jewelery was known for its extravagance and intricacy. While Islam abolished the idolatry and superstitious belief systems of the Middle East that inspired such creativity, thankfully it did not eradicate the unique craftsmanship possessed by the jewelery makers; instead, it was re-channeled for that reason that it did not transcend the new Islamic injunctions.

After the advent of Islam the Bedouins were heavily influenced by the arabesque form of decoration and became pioneers of Islamic Jewelery. It is an intertwined and over laced repetitive geometric designs that may be seen on the architecture of quite a few Islamic buildings across the Muslim World, including in the halls, rooms and courtyards for the Alhambra palace in to Spain.

By the end of the 8th Century CE the Islamic Civilization had spread its domain far and wide and now included North Africa, Spain, India and Central Asia. The local jewelery techniques for the Syrians, Egyptians and Persians were assimilated in Arab jewelery-making, therefore further evolving the model of Islamic Jewelery.

The earliest Islamic jewelery design alongside arabesque were developed under the era of the Seljuk Turks. This involved the use of silver to recreate Allah’s name, verses for the Holy Qur’an or the Shahada (article of faith) on pendants and rings. In the modern era these design have not lost their charms. A quick Internet search on Islamic Jewelery will bring up many contemporary products that continue the Seljuk method of crafting jewelery albeit having a contact of modern design.

Numerous for the Islamic jewelery products are today produced in to Turkey. It is interesting to note that Turkish Silver, the metal most commonly used in Turkish Islamic jewelery, consists of 92. 5% silver and 7. 5% cadmium. This is unlike normal sterling silver which is 92. 5% silver and 7. 5% copper. This variation in composition makes Turkish Silver lighter and more tarnish resistant.

Silver jewelery is also more recession proof than gold. Due to the rising price of gold and also the general economic climate, numerous people today would settle for cheaper silver pendants and rings as opposed to gold. And with this growth in demand for cheaper, non-gold alternatives, innovative designers are making use of other precious metals such as tungsten silver to produce a new range of affordable Islamic jewelery. One such product that has recently hit the market into Europe is the tungsten Islamic ring which comes in to many variations, for example the Arabesque ‘kufic’ fashion ring and also the ‘ring that has the ‘Shahada’ inscribed on it.

Related Posts