Pendants

Pendants

What is a pendant

Pendants are ornaments or pieces of jewellery that hang from a necklace, bracelet, or earring. The history of pendants dates back to prehistoric times. In place of the head, the figurine has a perforation so that it may have been worn as a pendant! The Greeks started using gold and gems in jewelry in 600 BC, although beads shaped as shells and animals were produced widely in earlier times.

 

Background

The early pendants were formed by spheres and cylindrical or biconical grains in lapis lazuli, carnelian and gold. These were in turn separated by gold pieces decorated with animal motifs, flowers or leaves. The primitives created necklaces from the beginning of the Palaeolithic, inserting with plant cords or tendons of animal materials. These materials could be easily drilled, such as soft stones, shells, vertebrae of fish, bones and teeth of animals.

Definition

Pendants take many forms including large gems or pearls, cameos, crosses, lockets, amulets, or watches. One should note that amulets as pendants have been most significant as one of the first forms of prehistoric jewelry.

Lockets

A locket is a small pendant in the form of a flat, round, or oval case with a hinged cover. Lockets are worn usually on a neck chain or suspended from a necklace of various styles. It is worn as a sentimental piece, meant to hold a memento such as a lock of hair, a photograph. In the sixteenth century, monarchs like Elizabeth I often presented gifts of lockets holding their portrait to favored courtiers.