Amulets and Symbols in Jewelry Design

Whether you call them amulets, charms, fetishes, or talismans, virtually every culture had them.  I like to think of them as little works of art, but they are so much more than that.  They were worn on the body to bring luck, heal, enhance fertility, protect against injury (during travel, hunting, or from bites and stings) or ward off evil, depending on the wearers beliefs and intentions.  They came in many forms, made with different materials, and adorned with different symbols. The meaning and significance in the symbolism of a particular image changed from east to west, culture to culture, and even day to day.  Even if you do not believe in their magical powers, it is fun to know the intention of the artists who created them, and the power felt by the person who wore them before you, as many of the pieces are antiques.  Below is a list of amulets and symbols found in many of the pendants and beads in KatieO jewelry.

Christian Cross:

The Christian cross is the most powerful religious symbol of Christianity.  It is a symbol of salvation and an emblem of faith.  It represents redemption from sin through the sacrifice of Jesus, and the promise of eternal life to those who believe in him. It is related to the crucifix (a cross that includes a representation of Jesus' body) and to the more general family of cross symbols. 

In religion and art, the cross is one of the richest and most enduring of geometric symbols.  It has taken on many forms and meanings throughout history.  In is an ancient and universal image of the cosmos reduced to its simplest form.  Two intersecting lines making four points of direction, these stood for the four cardinal points and the four rain-bearing winds.  The early Christian cross form known as the Chi-Rho, or Constantines Cross, combines the first two letters for Christ in Greek.  The Latin cross is the traditional cross of Christ and has the horizontal bar high up on vertical base.  St. Peter, who was crucified upside down, has the horizontal bar low down on the vertical bar.  The Greek cross has the horizontal bar centered. The Anchor cross combines the cross with the crescent, a symbol of Mary.  The Russian cross includes an inscription and the footrest of the crucifix.  The Y shaped cross is strongly identified with the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life was an ancient symbol of regeneration through the sacrifice of a human scapegoat.  There are hundreds of other cross variations that are used and each has its own interesting history.

Photos:

Top Left:  Banded Agate Cross Necklace, from the Cross Necklace Collection

Bottom Right:  Banded Agate Cross Necklace, from the Cross Necklace Collection

                            Pendants from the KatieO collection