Summary: Bronze Age Jewellery
Key dates:
The Bronze Age people have left a marvellous collection of superb quality golden jewellery. The earliest examples were ingots which were hammered out and cut into shapes, some of which were decorated. Designs varied from simple cruciform shapes to radial lines and circles arranged in groups.
The early period is renowned for the crescent shaped gold collars called lunulae because they looked like the moon. These came in three styles, ranging from the highly decorative classical to the plainer unaccomplished style and the very plain provincial style.
Around 1200BC goldsmiths developed new techniques which produced twisted ornaments called torcs. These were highly decorated and often had knobbed attachments. Earrings, neck, waist and arm ornaments were all produced in this way.
From 800BC there was an upsurge in the production of all dress fasteners and some items could weigh up to 1 kilogramme. This later gold work was of remarkable quality.
Semi precious stones such as jet, amber and falance (blue coloured) were used also for necklaces.
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