Antique and Vintage Religious Jewelry

[C. Dianne Zweig Editor's Desk]

Antique and Vintage Religious Jewelry

Ancient Egyptians first wore jewelry made of widely available gold and precious stones to symbolize good luck, healing, and eternal life. The scarab (beetle), the lotus, serpents, the eye of the Horus, and the ankh were the main symbols. Native Americans, too, wore jewelry made of turquoise and silver to honor the spirits, using specific colors and animal totems.

Early Christians identified themselves with crosses and rosary prayer beads, but because they faced much persecution, they often preferred the less-obvious fish charm, as the Greek word for fish, “ichthys,” was an acronym for “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.”

Read More: http://www.collectorsweekly.com/fine-jewelry/religious