Sunday, October 9, 2011

Jewelry as Little Works of Art





I have always had a great appreciation for art. Most recently I have developed a desire to express myself through creating jewelry. This has led be me to begin thinking about jewelry as little works of art.

There have been two major exhibits that displayed magnificent works of art that included jewelry. Catalogues of were available highlighting the major artworks included in the shows.

1) Power and Glory: Court Arts of China’s Ming Dynasty

This was the first major exhibit to focus on the court arts of the Ming Dynasty. Included in this exhibit were jewelry made with gold and jade which was considered the most ancient and the most luxurious materials in society. Small jewelry items for the forehead, arms, fingers, ears, chest and waist were common. A stunning pair of earrings in the shape of the Herbal Goddess in gold was presented in this show.

2) Dynasty and Divinity: Ife Art in Ancient Nigeria

This exhibit presented a major part of the body of ancient Ife art in terra-cotta, stone, and metal dating back to the ninth centuries.

Beadwork was one of the very distinctive artistic techniques of Ife. Beads mean a lot of different things for the Yoruba-speaking peoples. The color and how they were used took on a special meaning. Several of the terra-cotta and stone figures possessed strands of beads.



These are just a couple of great art exhibits that included jewelry. There are probably many more that do. If you are an admirer of jewelry as little works of art, be sure to look for these treasurers at you next art exhibit.

www.nellasbooksandcollectibles.ecrater.com


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