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.

Pearls:

The pearl is the quintessential  symbol of beauty and femininity.  It is associated with the luminous moon, fertility, birth, and rebirth.  The ancients believed that oysters produced pearls through a process of celestial impregnation.  A number of other symbolic associations make the pearl a powerful fertility amulet, these include its association with water, its pale luminosity which resembles the moon, and its growth inside a shell.  The oysters ability to transform matter into a "spiritual" jewel, made the pearl a symbol of rebirth as well.  

In mythology, pearls were worn by Aphrodite and Venus, goddesses of beauty, love, and sexual desires.  Although pearls were also symbols of purity and innocence.  The Romans also wore pearls for their medicinal and protective qualities. In China they symbolize wisdom, immortality and light.  In Tibet they were linked with the moon and were worn to enhance fertility. And last but not least, throughout history, pearls have been worn as a symbol of wealth.

Photos:

Top Left:  Tear Drop - White Baroque Pearl Earring, from the Calligraphy Earring Collection

Bottom Right:    Tear Drop - White Baroque Pearl Earring, from the Calligraphy Earring Collection

                          Silver Peace Earring,  from the Calligraphy Earring Collection

                          Dancing Girl - Keshi Pearl Earring,  from the Calligraphy Earring Collection