Evolution of Silver Jewellery in Different Cultures
Evolution of Silver Jewellery in Different Cultures
In today’s era, silver jewellery market share in India is growing at the market rate of 22% during 2023 - 2029. The worldwide market share of silver jewellery is expected to rise at 6% in 2025. But have you ever thought about where the trend of wearing silver jewellery came into existence in human history & culture and how?
In this blog post, we will explore how the different cultures & civilizations have contributed to the silver jewellery trends in human history.
Ancient Egypt -
The ancient Egyptians considered the silver as a connecting metal with the moon god “Khonsu”. They called the silver “White Gold”. Silver was much costlier than any other metal because it was a scarce metal in ancient Egypt. Silver jewellery was used just for big social occasions & religious ceremonies.
Egyptian artisans were very skilled in silver work. They used many techniques like - hammering, lost-wax casting, filigree, casting, and engraving for creating intricate designs on the metal. Silver was used in amulets, talismans, & burial masks to protect the deceased ones from negative energy.
The contribution of ancient Egypt to the silver jewellery -
- They created amulets in different designs to provide the ultimate protection and good luck. These designs included the ankh, scarab beetle, & the eye of Horus.
- Egyptian artisans were also skilled in making silver necklaces and pendants with precious stones, glass beads, and amulets.
- Egyptian men and women both also used to wear the silver rings. Those silver rings were also inscribed with different hieroglyphic inscriptions or symbols related to different gods & goddesses.
- Silver was used to make the cult vessels and objects used in religious ceremonies.
- Ancient Egypt is also well-renowned in making the silver jewellery items embraced with lapis lazuli, turquoise, coral, and amber.
Silver Jewellery from Ancient Egypt
Ancient Mesopotamia -
Silver was the most rare metal in ancient Mesopotamia but still the world’s oldest civilization has contributed a lot to silver jewellery. In Mesopotamia, silver was first used to make coins. Silver jewellery was used as personal adornment and for social & religious ceremonies also. These people used to import silver from Anatolia, Levant and Iran.
Mesopotamian kings used to wear silver jewellery to showcase their divine connection with the Gods, supremacy, royalty & charm. Silver crowns, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, amulets, and rings were used to wear.
The contribution of ancient Mesopotamia to the silver jewellery -
- Ancient Mesopotamian silversmiths used to employ notable techniques like - casting, hammering, and repousse. In the repousse technique the use of hammer was main in creating the raised designs on silver.
- The Mesopotamian silversmiths used to create very good designs with Lapis Lazuli, carnelian & turquoise.
- The mix of semi-precious gemstones and silver jewellery was very famous in Mesopotamia because it was not only aesthetically pleasing but also very functional.
- Mesopotamian silversmiths also used to make signet rings, which included the name of king, high officials, & bigger gods.
- The silver amulets were also prepared on a grand scale to protect from negative energy. They were also inscribed with shapes like - animals, gods or other divine figurines.
Silver Jewellery from Ancient Mesopotamia
Ancient Mexico -
Aztecs were well-known about the use of silver here, but they were not that skilled in its craftsmanship. Later when Spanish immigrants came here in this region, they introduced many silver refining techniques to make Silver the most significant resource.
In Mexico, Zapotecs and Mixtec cultures were very advanced in the metallurgy of silver. They were also experts in making the earspools, pendants, and necklaces for personal and religious ceremonies.
The contribution of ancient Mexico to the silver jewellery -
- Aztecs in ancient Mexico often made the earrings, necklaces, and headdresses as silver jewellery items.
- Silver jewellery pieces were also made from divine symbols & motifs like - Jaguar, serpents, feathers, flowers, & animal figures also.
- Ancient Mexicans were also experts in beadwork and metalwork to create intricate designs on jewellery items.
- Mexican silver jewellery was full of natural and human symbols as well.
In today’s era, Taxco, Oaxaca, and Chihuahua-like Mexican states are very famous for their silver jewellery work and designs.
Silver Jewellery from Ancient Mexico
Ancient Greece -
Ancient Greece is one of the most refined civilizations that have done masterpiece work in the field of silver jewellery or any other kind as well. They incorporated casting, filigree, chasing, inlaying, & engraving techniques for metalworking. Greek silver jewellery was also full of gods and goddesses - Athena, Apollo, or Hera.
Ancient Greeks were experts in making silver necklaces with other materials like - amber, glass beads etc. These people were also skilled in making the pendants from hoops, studs, & pendants. They also worked great in inlaid jewellery with carnelian, amber, and turquoise.
The contribution of ancient Greece to the silver jewellery -
- Greek silver rings were also used for seals and identification. They were worn as symbols of power & wealth by Greek elites.
- Silver earrings were worn by men and women. Their length was considered as the symbol of the wearer’s social status & recognition.
- Silver bracelets were also very good jewellery items for ancient Greeks. These were also featured with engraved designs and were crafted from silver bands.
- Greek artisans developed the delicate art of filigree, which involved twisting fine threads of silver into intricate patterns.
- Silver jewellery was also filled with natural symbols like - lions, eagles, horses, flowers and laurel wreaths.
Silver Jewellery from Ancient Mexico
Ancient Middle East -
Silver was early known to the ancient middle east since 3000 BCE especially in the region of Sumeria. Silver was used for its malleability, shining appearance, & rarity. The ancient middle east saw the development of metal refining techniques like - filigree, granulation, and lost-wax casting.
Silver jewellery from the ancient middle east carried out the deeper & symbolic meaning related to power, status, & divine connection.
The contribution of ancient middle-east to the silver jewellery -
- Craftsmen from ancient Persia were very skilled in creating intricate designs and large, bold pieces.
- The phoenicians were very skilled in making silver jewellery with semi-precious stones and glass, combining eastern & western styles.
- The middle-east craftsmen were very expert in creating complex & detailed designs for rings, necklaces, and bracelets.
- Mesopotamian silver jewelry often included protective symbols like the Lion of Ishtar or images of gods and goddesses.
Silver Jewellery from Ancient Middle East
Ancient India -
The use of silver for the first time in ancient India is dated back to the period of Indus valley civilization (C. 2500 - 1500 BCE). Silver was first used in making beads, bangles & rings. Like any other region of this world, Indian silver jewellery designs were also inspired by nature, mythology & religious symbols.
The contribution of ancient India to silver jewellery -
- The Indian silver jewellery was full of religious symbols - lotus flowers, gods and goddesses, animals (snakes, lions & elephants). They were also full of Om and Swastika like symbols.
- Rajputana and Punjab were famous for large & bold designs of silver jewellery. South India was famous for its intricate and complex temple jewellery. Gujarat and Maharashtra were also famous for their bajuband, nath & payal.
- India was also an important player in trading silver jewellery. The silver jewellery was traded with central asia and middle east.
- Ancient coins from Gupta and Mauryan empire were often worn as pendants.They were inscribed with images of kings, deities, and animals, which were seen as both a symbol of wealth and divine protection.
Silver Jewellery from Ancient India
Conclusion -
The history of silver jewellery tells a fascinating story in itself which reveals how different cultures told their identities, technological skills advancement, and symbolic everyday objects. Ancient Egyptians used silver in social and grand ceremonies as white gold where people from mesopotamia used advanced metalworking techniques for jewellery making.
In the ancient Middle East, silver jewelry was more than just decoration—it symbolized power, status, and a deep connection to the divine. In India, the art of making silver jewelry started in the Indus Valley Civilization, where designs were influenced by nature, mythology, and religious beliefs.
In every culture, silver was not just a piece of jewelry, but a way to express beliefs, social status, and artistic creativity. The techniques developed by ancient artisans—like casting, hammering, and filigree - still shape modern jewelry design. The symbols and patterns they used, often inspired by nature and mythology, continue to influence today's jewelry, linking the past with the present.