Renaissance
JewelryWiki Editorial·1 source·Reviewed 2026-08-04
Splendour, mythology and the individual. Enamel covering both sides of a jewel, revived gem engraving, and stones still chosen for what they were believed to prevent.
Properties
| Property | Value | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Named for | The Renaissance; a chronological and cultural label. [1] | — |
| Defining traits | Shared the age’s passion for splendour. Enamels, often covering both sides of the jewel, became more elaborate and colourful. Designs reflect the new interest in the classical world, with mythological figures and scenes, and the revived ancient art of gem engraving. Portraits reflect an increased artistic awareness of the individual. [1] | — |
| Characteristic stones and metals | Advances in cutting techniques increased the glitter of stones. Particular stones were thought to protect against specific ailments or threats, from toothache to the evil eye, and to encourage or banish characteristics such as bravery or melancholy. [1] | — |
| What to watch for | Ancient carved stones were routinely reused. The V&A shows a ring whose Greek or Roman scorpion intaglio dates from the 2nd or 1st century BC in a 15th-century setting — so the stone and the jewel can be seventeen centuries apart and the piece is still, correctly, a Renaissance ring. [1] | — |
Sources
- V&A — A history of jewellery — Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A, A history of jewellery)