| Whether you are a history buff or simply seeing | | | | would ignore these rules and the fact that they |
| handmade beaded jewelry worn by your favorite | | | | had to pay a fine was also seen as a mark of |
| actresses, it is hard to look at the jewelry from | | | | status and wealth! |
| the past and not take a look at the handmade | | | | During the Victorian age in Europe, handmade |
| jewelry that was worn then. While some of these | | | | beaded jewelry started taking the shapes that |
| pieces look unbearably clunky and old fashioned | | | | would be very familiar to those of us who wear |
| now, some would look right at home on today's | | | | jewelry today. The Victorian era had a very |
| top fashion catwalks and expos. Jewelry, in all of | | | | strong interest in death and funerary arts, though, |
| its forms, has had a strong effect on the world | | | | and this was often eerily represented in so-called |
| and the fashions that were based off of it. | | | | mourning jewelry, where people would snip hair |
| Early in history, jewelry was a mark of status of | | | | from their departed loved ones and weave it into |
| some sort. Perhaps the only people who could | | | | lockets, broaches and rings. Sometimes this |
| wear it were of religious importance, or perhaps | | | | jewelry would get very elaborate and it could be |
| they were the only people who could afford it. | | | | quite beautiful, especially when different shades of |
| You'll find that even though the handmade beaded | | | | hair were used. |
| jewelry from early eras seems primitive to our | | | | The beginning of the twentieth century saw the |
| eyes that it was still crafted with care. For | | | | beginning of costume jewelry. Costume jewelry, |
| instance, the twisted torques, close fitting | | | | far from being as cheap or as disposable as the |
| necklaces that were worn by the Celts, was | | | | name implies, was actually meant to be jewelry |
| often a sign of both manhood and wealth. | | | | that complemented one particular outfit. Various |
| Later on, jewelry was a mark of privilege and | | | | precious metals and gems could -and often did!- |
| leisure; it was a show that not only could you | | | | go into the production of costume jewelry. |
| afford to feed yourself and your loved ones, but | | | | Today, we are experiencing a real renaissance as |
| that you could spend a lot of extra money on | | | | far as jewelry goes, and whether you love fine |
| beautiful things. For instance, in many parts of | | | | handmade beaded jewelry or simply love adorning |
| Europe, there were sumptuary laws that forbid | | | | yourself with something new every day, take a |
| people of a certain class from wearing things that | | | | look and see what sort of impact the right piece |
| were too extravagant, whether that was cloth, | | | | of jewelry can have on you! |
| jewelry or special leathers. Often though, people | | | | |