Jewelry Through the Ages: Georgian Period

Georgian jewelry encompasses any jewelry crafted between the years 1714 and 1837. This era in time is known as the “Georgian” era in particular because it spanned the reign of four British kings, all named George (George I, George II, George III, and George IV). This period was marked by a mixture of romanticism and Gothicism, embodied by authors like Jane Austen and Mary Shelley. The Industrial Revolution also began during this period.

Jewelry in the Georgian Era tended to reflect other artistic trends, borrowing from the gothic with images of skulls and coffins.

Characteristics of jewelry from this period include:

•  Made by hand and very rare
• Nature-inspired themes (birds, leaves, etc.)
• Precious stones
• Skull motifs, coffins

The ring pictured right (georgianjewelry.com) is an example of Georgian-style jewelry inspired by the term memento mori, meaning “remember that you must die”.

What is your jewelry style? Stop by Fountain City Jewelers to find out!