Historic Influences: The Roots of Jewellery Design
- Date
- 07 Apr 2025 · 6:00PM - 7:00PM
- Price
- Pay what you can: £5 or £10
- Venue
- Online (via Zoom), UK time
- Programme type
- Talks
Jewellery produced in the Ancient and Medieval world can range from the simple to the spectacularly beautiful, but how was it conceived? Do the concepts of inspiration and creativity that permeate modern jewellery design and teaching apply to the past? How can learning about historical design influence and enhance contemporary making?
Join jewellery historian, Dr Jack Ogden, in an online talk exploring the creative elements that influenced jewellery designs in the past and discover how jewellery styles and techniques have evolved over time to reflect the societies that produced them. Find out what lessons the past has to teach us about the future of jewellery design.
There will be the opportunity to ask questions and join in the conversation.
Image credit: Model for a Jewel with Adam and Eve © Rijks Museum, Amsterdam
Who is the speaker?
Dr Jack Ogden is a British jewellery historian specialising in the development of materials and technology. He has lectured world-wide on this subject and written numerous articles and several books. His most recent books are ‘Diamonds: an early history of the king of stones’ (Yale University Press 2018) and ‘Jewellery technology in the ancient and medieval world’ (Brynmorgen 2024). He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and founder and past president of the Society of Jewellery Historians. He holds a Doctorate from Durham University and has earned the Gem-A Gemmology Diploma (with distinction) and the Diploma in Art Profession Law and Ethics from the Institute of Art and Law (with distinction). He is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars.