Jewellery : Name Jewellery - Why Do We Wear it?
By Gary Hocking
Name Jewellery is far from a modern fashion. Carrie in Sex in the City did not invent name necklaces but she sure revitalized the interest in them and she made them a red hot fashion item for teenagers through the grandmothers.
People put their name on jewellery throughout the centuries for various reasons. Identification was one of the main reasons but it was a lot more than letting some stranger know what your name was.
It was often a warning that this person or piece of jewellery was significant. Kings and queens have had their names scripted on bracelets, bangles and neck jewellery. They were often buried wearing this jewellery.
Queen Victoria gave the Hawaiian queen Liliuokalani a gold bracelet with her name enameled on it and from then on every goldsmith in Hawaii had to be taught the art of making these pieces.
The ancient Egyptians made the cartouche and it was a really an ancient name pendant worn by royalty.
Today in Scandinavia lots of jewellery is found buried without the owner, but it does often have the original owner’s name sometimes on pieces of the jewellery.
Just like today people are doing something a lot more significant than letting other people know who they are. When you wear your name on a necklace you are making a statement about yourself. You are letting the world know that you are proud to be who you are. That’s a great thing!
Pure bodily adornment is another reason that people want to wear name jewellery. These items are often intricate and beautiful so the wearer is making a statement about themselves in two ways: you are proud of being you and beautiful at the same time.
Remembrance is another great reason. I once had the honour of being asked to make two necklaces from the dog tags of the first US soldier killed in one of our recent wars. I was asked to put gold around them and precious stones in them. Most honoured as I was it was too great a responsibility to send these items back and forward from Australia where I am from and the USA.
I make lots of name pendants with the names of children for mothers to wear. That’s a lovely statement of your total love for your children I believe. Love and name jewellery go hand in hand. Whether it is a healthy love of self or love of another it is a wonderful way to confirm this.
Everyday I am asked from people all over the world to make them an item of name jewellery. Check out my website for what I do.
Gary Hocking makes custom jewellery of all kinds. He has his own website http://www.jewelleryexpress.com.au Feel free to use this article as long as you keep the bio and the live link to his website.
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