Goldsmithery

The goldsmithery comes from Latin auri and faber , which wants to say " craftsman of the or". Goldsmithery indicates the work of the noble metals. This art is traditionally arranged among the Minor arts.

History of goldsmithery

It will be noted that in Antiquity, and this until the end of the Middle Ages, goldsmithery is inseparable from the richness and the currency: indeed, the richness was calculated in metal weight, and where necessary, one did not hesitate to remelt a coin of goldsmithery, just like the goldsmiths founded currencies to manufacture their works.

Prehistory

It is generally considered that the man knew gold as of the paleolithic one. However, he is almost not worked: the man, at that time, does not know yet the techniques of fusion of metal, and is thus satisfied to carve it.

The protohistoire

Goldsmithery in itself was born during the Chalcolithique in Balkans. The first objects are decorated with the Repoussé. They are mainly ornaments (collars, bracelets,…). Even gold cases are found phallic… Let us note that it is as at that time as clearly various social classes appear, of which some are rich and others much less.

Goldsmithery in Former Asia

Time of Uruk and Djemdet Nasr (- 3500 to -2800)

First cylinders seals. The majority are out of stone, but one finds some out of copper.

Antiquated city-states of Sumer: -2800 to -2400

Goldsmithery presents a great richness and a great technical knowledge. The color is omnipresent: one finds there incrustations of lapis lazuli lazuli, cornaline, ivory and shells. In the famous tombs of Ur, one finds in particular musical instruments of a great richness, weapons, jewels and objects decorative (drawn up goats, for example). In Mari, one finds the representation of an eagle léontocéphale.

To note that the gold used during this period is in fact of electrum, a natural alloy of gold and money.

Time of Akkad: 2400-2185 and néo-sumérienne: -2185 to -2016

One found very few objects of goldsmithery for these time. It is necessary to observe the statues of men and women to realize of the existence of jewels.

Dynasties amorites and Babylonian: -2016 to -1595

Small objects like statuettes of adoring or the ibexes.

Time kassite

Harder forms, continued tradition.

The art of the phenicians in thousand-year-old IIe

perfect technique, reasons used in a decorative way. Found objects with Byblos and Ugarit show us all the richness of this Article One finds there in particular weapons and invaluable crockery, the whole often intended for the sanctuaries.

Assyrians (- 1245 to -612)

One will quote mainly the treasure of Ziwiyé, which is composed mainly of jewels beginning again of the reasons of animals and crowned trees, which contrast with the usual art of warfare.

Time néobabylonienne: -625 to -539

Babylon was plundered, nothing was not thus found

Time achéménide

One will quote mainly the treasures of Oxus and Hamadan. They are bracelets and other gold jewels decorated with animals, and invaluable crockery. Art achéménide makes a little the synthesis of all the influences of Asia Antérieure.

Goldsmithery of old Egypt

The main feature of Egyptian goldsmithery throughout its history, it is the importance of the color.

Civilization of Nagada

As of Egyptian prehistory, there exist pallets with make-ups and other objects cut out in Schiste or ivory and decorated with metals.

Time thinite (- 3000 to -2635)

Gold jewels, cornaline and turquoise

Old empire (- 2635 to -2040)

It remains very little of goldsmithery because of plunderings, but one found in one of the pyramids a gold shell. The collars are very broad, with several rows of pearls out of gold, turquoise and cornaline.

By afterwards

Goldsmithery developed much in Occident during the Carolingian Renaissance.

Goldsmithery developed much in Europe at the XVIIe-XXe centuries. Punch S on the objects in Gold, money and Platine make it possible most of the time to specify of it the nature of the Métal, the title, the author, the date and the place of manufacture.

Goldsmithery calls upon various techniques, among which the Ciselure, the Estampage, the Gravure, the Poinçonné, the up to date Repercé or cutting and the Repoussé.

Random links: