Difference Between Georgian 1714-1837 And Victorian Era 1837-1901 Jewelry

The differences between Georgian 1714-1837 and Victorian Era 1837-1901 jewelry can be attributed to a variety of things, from changing trends in fashion to the cultural and social developments that occurred in England during these two periods. The cultural shift from the Enlightenment period of Georgian rules to the Victorian period saw a dramatic change in the way jewelry was made, used, and viewed.

During the Georgian era, jewelry reflected the formal stylings of French-influenced designs that favored intricate detailing and often larger pieces.

It was usually made with luxurious materials such as gold and stones like diamonds, sapphires and rubies. Pieces were designed with strong symbolism as well as political leanings.

In contrast, during the Victorian era, jewelry became increasingly popular among all classes of people. The values of sentimentality and romanticism were particularly influential on the production of jewelry during this time period, which resulted in lighter materials being used such as silver and rose gold as well as softer materials like amethyst beads rather than large diamonds.



Furthermore, more ornate details were included also, with flowers playing a prominent role in many pieces due to their feminine connotations. Engagements became popular during this time too resulting in imperial rings becoming increasingly common alongside diamond necklaces being given as gifts for anniversaries or special occasions – something that was not quite so widespread prior to Victoria’s reign.

Overall, it is clear that there are many big differences between Georgian 1714-1837 and Victorian Era 1837-1901 jewelry and their respective designs which can be linked back directly to socioeconomic shifts experienced within English society at that point in time.

With entirely different roles assigned to various materials depending on what class a person might belong to as well as overtly feminine or masculine associations ascribed by certain styles or motifs – it is apparent why these two eras produced some very distinctively crafted styles of jewelry form one another.

Design Techniques

The Georgian period of jewelry-making lasted from 1714 to 1837 and was marked by a preference for bright colors and intricate designs. Engraving was used extensively in this time period to create delicate effects, often taking the form of scrolling lines and shapes or geometric patterns along with cameo portraits.

These pieces also featured colored enamels on gold and silver, which were often accentuated with diamonds or other precious stones. Many of these pieces had a Rococo look, featuring curved lines and elaborate details like scrolls and foliage.

The Victorian era (1837-1901) saw a shift in style away from the Georgian toward more romanticism, both in its designs and its themes. Jewelry designs were no longer restricted to symmetrical shapes; instead, there were more asymmetrical forms such as hearts, stars, baskets of fruit and flowers, birds, snakes, animals, etc., creating an overall whimsical effect.

This more creative period also saw the introduction of basse-taille enamel which was applied over a textured gold surface to create depth of color with gradations of deep pink, green blue or black. Popular gemstones during this time included sapphires, rubies, tourmalines and opals; while pearls used to embellish necklaces and bracelets were popular among women belonging to wealthier classes.

A third technique associated heavily with Victorian jewelry is hollow ware – thin shells formed into pendants wherein precious gems could be set inside a design carved directly into the shell’s surface. Many Victorian pieces also featured lockets known as keepsakes where each side would bear a sentimental message either engraved or hand-painted onto it.

Thus one can see that many different jewels have been constructed for adornment in two very different styles presenting an interesting glimpse into the nature and sentimentality of those times.

Trends

The Georgian period, which ran from 1714 to 1837, was a time of opulence and ornate jewelry designs. During this era, fashion was heavily influenced by the money, class and social status of its wearers. Jewelry became more ornate and complex in its designs; it could often be quite heavy due to being made with large amounts of a variety of stones such as garnets, pearlsTopazes were also popular precious stones as well as diamonds.

Popular styles include delicate paste jewelry and Russian filigree art that had intricate layered designs with colorful gemstones or enameled figures. These are usually found with colored stones such as rubies and sapphires set into gold or silver mountings.

In the Victorian era (1837 – 1901), jewelry became softer in appearance and designs shifted towards lighter pieces utilizing small colorful gemstones in clusters or often in openwork detailing. There was an overall movement away from large, ornate pieces toward delicate designs during this time period – jewelry had much more subtlety, often taking on floral motifs or having symbolic meanings attributed to them such as hearts for love or acorns for luck.

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Popular materials included coral, jet, shell cameos and seed pearls – necklaces were shorter than they’d been previously but still often used pendants to signify a particular sentiment or symbolize something special. Brooches were popular too; particularly those featuring tortoise shells mid late 19th century while famous motifs included snake rings representing eternity as well as mourning rings hosting miniature photos of deceased loved ones.

Jewelry during the Victorian era held religious symbolism alongside being deemed appropriate for both daytime activities such as taking tea parties alone in your boudoir or meeting up at the Grand Exhibition of Great Britain at the Crystal Palace that was decked out with regal treasures.



Symbolically there was doom too – larger black diamond carvings represented death scenes although this trend started well before 1837 yet stayed relevant throughout victorian times until eventually coming full circle back onto modern society trends today in 2020.

Symbolism

The Georgian Era (1714-1837) and Victorian Era (1837-1901) have given us the gift of beautiful jewelry designs. These pieces vary in style, craftsmanship and material but they both express the same sentiment: a token of love and affection. This is seen through the use of symbols used in the jewelry of these periods. In particular roses, hearts, and other images are often used to convey this sentiment.

In Georgian Jewelry, roses were a popular motif to communcate unending love through beauty. Often designed in gold or silver with encrusted gemstones, roses were commonly given as betrothal gifts from wooers to proclaim that their love was timeless and unconditional.

This idea of “timeless love” was also conveyed through the intricate designs on lockets, brooches and buckles fashioned into the shapes of roses. Furthermore, crescents were a symbol for eternal youth because even when does age it will always come back full circle – giving us hope for a brighter tomorrow each day.

Victorian Jewelry showed an emphasis on symbolism using delicate designs with natural motifs such as ivy leaves or acorns to memorialize lovers. The most popular being that of heart motifs which by then had become synonymous with love itself – with messages inscribed within them proclaiming “everlasting” devotion and royalty signified by crown detailings found on jewels created during this period symbolizing power or legacy left behind when one goes away after death.

Furthermore other enduring symbols such as anchors iron keys, palm leaves, arrows and religious iconography like the cross served to communicate faith whereas butterflies represented transformation in life – which brought joy despite difficult times during this era.

Both Georgian era & Victorian era jewellery demonstrate how history provided insight into what kinds of symbols people chose for expressing their deepest emotions; hard carved strings tying together memories along onto piece not only valuable but also sentimental – therefore providing us insight into courtships during those periods too.

Auction Overview

The Georgian and Victorian eras refer to the approximate time periods between 1714-1837 and 1837-1901, respectively in England. During these two different periods of art history, jewelry underwent various transformations in style and fashion that are still visible today.

The Georgian era was a time when large and elaborate pieces of jewelry were produced for the aristocracy. Jewellery was an important symbol of status, wealth and power during this period. Fine gemstones such as diamonds and rubies were often set into bold designs to create extravagant items of jewelry using gold or silver.

Naturalistic motifs such as flowers, foliage, animals and insects were also very popular during this time period. Overall, the looks from the Georgian era could be considered more ostentatious than those from the later Victorian Age.

The look of jewelry during the Victorian Era also transformed significantly compared to previous times. During Victorian England, there was a shift away from grand statements with jewelry used instead to express affection and sentimentality rather than wealth or showcase extravagance.

Lightweight designs with intricate details made up most pieces from this period as well as smaller stones being favoured for use in jewelry items rather than larger gems. Feminine motifs such as swans, leaves, hearts and romantic symbols supplied inspiration for jewellery design at this time while surprisingly coloured gemstones were increasingly used over original gems like diamonds which had been staples in georgian jewelry designs.

In conclusion, there is much difference between these two eras with regards to jewelsery styles and silhouettes seen throughout at auctions worldwide during the given years mentioned above. Whereas the Georgians favoured bold patterns with lavish adornments based around fine gemmstones ,the Victorians created more delicate jewellery designs that focused more on sentimentality than showmanship which changed how people wore jewellery over this two hundred year period dramatically.

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Celebrity Adornment

The Georgian era of jewelry began in 1714 with the coronation of King George I and ended in 1837 when Queen Victoria took the throne. During this period, royalty and wealthy aristocrats favored gold, gemstones, and pearls for their jewelry. Bangles, necklaces, brooches and rings were fashionable items that those of high social standings wore to demonstrate their wealth and taste. Naturalistic designs featuring animals, flowers and Greek figures were popular choices.

In stark contrast, jewelry of the Victorian era was characterized by a more romantic essence due to Queen Victoria’s long reigning period as well as advances in technology which included machinery making die-stamping much easier. Commentators have also argued that this shift in style reflects the impact of Prince Albert on Victoria’s fashion sense; being a German prince, it is believed he inspired a love for finer details such as enamel work into her wardrobe.

Popular styles included filigree or intricate patterned bands crafted using thin metal wires as well as ornamental lockets often filled with miniature photographs or locks of hair from loved ones either passed on or inaccessible due to long-distance relationships (a luxury afforded by newly established sea routes). Pearl necklaces posed were also highly sought after wedding gifts indicative at that time of status, sacrifice and commitment.

Unsurprisingly celebrity jewelry adornment shifted along with this transformation in style. In the Georgian era poets such Robert Burns sported frilly ruffles blended with cameos and pocket watches while actors like Edmund Kean chose massive gold chains to emphasize their prominent theatrical roles – both clear physical expressions of emotionalism rather than concrete symbolisms.

But celebrities during Victoria’s reign favored opulent jewellery overflowing with sentimentality like locket bracelets bearing personal initials or necklaces made from favorite handkerchiefs expressing nostalgia for sentimental moments previously shared together. Such items became known as “token jewellery” – a phrase still used today – because they served to remind wearers disconnected from loved ones ‘ back home’ through long distances voyages or sadly health conditions – symbols tokens which would spark fond memories when met with challenging times.

Future Trends

An examination of Georgian and Victorian eras in jewelry reveals that there were distinct differences between the two. During the Georgian era (1714-1837), jewelry was heavily focused on intricate details juxtaposed with precious metals and stones, such as Gold, Silver, Diamonds, Rubies and Sapphires.

Intricate swirls, droplet designs and floral motifs were paired with gems for an overall opulent effect. During this period, diamonds were thought to be a symbol of commitment in love or marriage and jewelry was often crafted in pairs or sets – a signifying tradition that is still used today.

In contrast to the ornate designs of the Georgian era, Victorian jewelry (1837-1901) found itself at a more polychromatic place. It wasn’t uncommon for pieces to have many colors integrated within them to reflect the new ideology created by Queen Victoria I. Materials such as Platinum, Ivory and Live Pearls formed the base composition in most pieces during this time.

Popular motifs included roses which created innocence as well as glittery spangles that represented luxury and extravagance. These motifs also carried spiritual significance while being worn by special occasions such as weddings or birthdays.

Moving into present day, modern trends in jewelry are taking cues from both the Georgian and Victorian periods to bring something new to fashion design. For instance, couples now looking get engaged often choose vintage inspired rings rather than traditional bands.

These include intricate details along with stones that capture the romantic spirit of Georgians yet offer colors similar to those found in Victorian eras aesthetics adding complexity with multiple variations possible on each piece.

Also popular is layering: combining vintage pieces with contemporary making for a visually striking affect that could be mistaken for one piece but can be tailored easily according to changing trends in fashion or simply owner’s individual taste at any given moment of their life journey.



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