History of Jewelry and Antique Jewelry
Humans have always worn jewelry. Before man learned to write, or even speak, he decorated himself with pendants, necklaces, earrings, and headdresses. Fossils from primitive people living 75,000 years ago show that humans formed bracelets and necklaces from materials like the shiny shell of a snail or bones strung together from animals. They formed beads from mollusks and strung the beads to create beautiful necklaces. Throughout history, people formed jewelry from whatever natural material captured their fancy, including wood, hair, metals, teeth, and gemstones. Jewelry was used to display power, status, for medicinal purposes, to ward off evil, and as a part of religious rituals. In 3,500 B.C., man began to use fire to alloy metal; soon, people used bronze to create beautiful pieces breastplates, diadems and head pieces.