Symbolism in Jewellery Part 1 4th August 2016 – Posted in: Blog – Tags: , , , , ,

Cultural symbols are often seen in jewellery, as charms, centrepieces or as part of a design. Although these symbols in jewellery, such as the Buddha, dreamcatcher and evil eye to name but a few are decorative and eye-catching, they often represent so much more.

There are many different cultural and religious symbols used in jewellery making, all of which come with a different meaning and often with varying interpretations across cultures.

In Symbolism in Jewellery part 1, we take a look at the symbolic and cultural meanings of the Hamsa Hand, Evil Eye and Tree of Life.

Hamsa Hand

The Hamsa is a palm shaped amulet that originates from the Middle East to symbolise the Hand of God. It is seen as a protective symbol across all cultures and is often paired with the Evil Eye symbol to defend against evil forces.

The most popular design of Hamsa Hand, which is Eastern in style, has two symmetrical thumbs and can be worn with the fingers pointing up or down to protect its wearer from the bad luck enforced by the evil eye.

Wearing the Hamsa Hand in jewellery is believed to bring its owner happiness, health and good fortune. Other representations have also linked the Hamsa symbol to power and strength.

Evil Eye

The Evil Eye is one of the most widely used protective symbols in the world. Originating from Ancient Greece and Rome, the Evil Eye is a talisman that protects its owner from evil forces. In particular it is thought to deflect the look of an evil eye, which is believed to be a curse that inflicts harm, suffering and bad luck upon the person it is directed at.

The Evil Eye has a symbolic importance in almost every culture and religion, including Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Hindu and Islam. The design features a circle or sometimes an oval shape, most commonly in blue with smaller inner circles to represent an eye.

Tree of Life

The Tree of Life symbol depicts a tree with many interconnecting branches and roots. Its spiritual representation is that life, like the tree is branched and deeply rooted and each person as a child of the universe has the right to exist and has responsibility to grow.

Being a sacred tree, the Tree of Life symbol represents the interconnectedness of all life and symbolises growth, wisdom and protection. It is used for reflection and understanding that all life has the same beginnings and is in some way related.

The Tree of Life is also a symbol of nature and often in jewellery, is paired with other emblems of nature, such as birds, leaves and butterflies. The Tree of Life can also symbolise family and the family tree.

 

In Symbolism in Jewellery Part 2, we take a look at the meaning and cultural representations of the Dreamcatcher, Heart and Buddha symbols.