The History of Rings

Discoveries made between 1922 and 1934 in ancient Babylonia (Iraq) proved the
existence of Finger Rings from about 2500 BC.

On the picture from well known book "7000 years of jewelry "
Finger rings inlaid with lapis lazuli within a fine scale pattern of gold cells.
During the Medieval period is when rings became especially popular. All classes of people wore rings from the poorest to the richest. Rings were typically made of iron, copper, silver, and gold. The material of the ring worn usually indicated the class of the wearer. It wasn't until around the 14th century that faceted jewels appeared in rings.

Some cultures have rings typically associated with them. Cultures such as Native Americans use silver and turquoise in their jewelry. Early Christians used the Greek symbol, the Icthus, which resembles a fish.

One of the best known is the Irish Claddagh that also has an intriguing story attached to it. Richard Joyce was among the crew of a fishing boat from the village of Claddagh, Ireland that was captured, he was to have been married that very same week. During slavery Richard Joyce was put to the trade of Goldsmith-ing. Through the years of capture neither married. Richard Joyce created a ring for his love with a heart and two hands.  After Joyce escaped capture, he returned to the village of Claddagh and was overjoyed to see his love again and to know she had never married. She always knew he would return to her. He gave her the ring that has become known as the Claddagh ring. If the Claddagh is worn on the right hand with the crown inward (toward the wrist) the heart is not yet committed. If it is worn on the right hand with the crown turned outward the wearer is committed to someone. Finally if it is worn on the left hand with the crown outward it means "Let our love and friendship reign forever,

Hands and Head

As I started my training at the course in jewelry art, I looked around.
There were 12 trainees in our group. Some of them were women who wanted to do something interesting during their sabbatical (a year-long holiday given every seven years to certain professionals, like teachers). Others were guys interested in some metal-working experience. (What's the classical jewelry craft about, if not metal-working?)
We were taught to solder, bend and grind metal. By the time that first lesson was over, I could think up a whole series of decorations which I was now able to make.
But I put a lid on the daydreams. I knew that my head would leave my hands far behind. First it was necessary to train the hands, to master a lot of technique, to understand what was within my reach and what was not "doable".
The studies were organized in such a way that by the end of a three-hour lesson, everyone would finish making an "end product". Many of the students succeeded in that.
I was not so lucky.
http://www.artleah.com/

How It All Began

Once they opened a stall at our railway station in Israel, where a collection of trinkets was on sale: beads, earrings, bracelets… They also sold component parts for all this costume jewelry.


I had never known before that there was such a wide variety of bijouterie on sale in Israel, or that any woman could create anything she likes from the separate pieces. The same shops that sell all these things also run special courses, where someone can learn basic jewelry techniques in about half an hour.

To make a long story short, I was admiring the costume jewellery displayed in the stall for a long time before I at last made up my mind. I bought some glass beads, snaps and cord, and made my first set – a bead necklace and bracelet. It was beautiful. And so I got hooked on making jewelry for myself.
http://www.artleah.com/
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