What Is Jewellery - Definition

What is Jewellery? 

(Un Edited) 

Bruce Metcalf:

The true definition of the word ‘jewellery’ cannot be pin-pointed in one sentence due to the vast number of explanations that describe the term, however, according to Bruce Metcalf, in his paper Nature of Jewellery, he claims that jewellery can be seen as something in between garment and sculpture. Jewellery relates to garments in the way that it is worn so close to the human body. Garments, similar to jewellery, are worn on the body, but are different because garments are worn mostly for protection from the elements; jewellery is mainly made for bodily adornment and not to serve as protection from the cold. Whether jewellery is made to be worn on a body part, or it only possesses the potential to be worn in imagination, it cannot exist outside the context of the human body, as then it will only be regarded as sculpture, which is a three dimensional object made for the purpose of decoration. 

What is jewellery?

Bruce Metcalf:

Part of my Btech research revolves around the question "what is contemporary jewellery?" And to help me answer this question, I examined Bruce Metcalf's paper on The Nature of Jewellery where he focusses on the question, ‘where do the boundaries of jewellery lie?’ To answer his question; or to bring more clarification; he looks into the physical meanings of jewellery, the functions of jewellery, the constants, issues and traditions around the vast subject of jewellery. Metcalf suggests that it is difficult to pinpoint the true meaning of the term and that it is up to individuals to 'settle on their own interpretations'

To find the exact definition of the word ‘jewellery’ is an exasperating task as it cannot be described in one sentence as there are a vast number of explanations that describe the term, however, according to Bruce Metcalf, jewellery can be best defined as objects that fall in a region between sculpture and garment. Sculpture being a physical object that is viewed, isolated from the human body, garments, similar to jewellery are items that are worn on the body, but jewellery is not worn like garments to protect us from the elements. Therefore jewellery lies in the intersection between the realms of garments and sculpture. Whether jewellery is made to be worn on a body part, or it only possesses the potential to be worn in imagination, it cannot exist outside the context of the human body, as then it will only be regarded as sculpture.

In his paper, Metcalf talks about the five functions of jewellery where he describes the purposes that items of jewellery possess. These functions help us to understand the term jewellery more clearly and they are not mutually exclusive from one another as they can exist simultaneously in one item of jewellery. Metcalf suggests that jewellery's largest primary purpose is to decorate the human body by aiding as an accent or a focus to a specific part of the body that falls under a personal desire to seem more sexually attractive or that conforms with a specific cultural practice. Addition to these functions, jewellery also has the following purposes.

By decorating the body with specific items of jewellery people send out a subtle message that they belong to a specific culture, class or social group. This is the function of status. Without saying a word, upon one glance, other members of society can see what type of social grouping you fall under by the type of jewellery you wear. Jewellery may also function as a form of portable wealth, where the wealth is easily exchangeable and stored on the body for easy access. The jewellery may be taken off of the body and sold during an emergency or crisis.  Jewellery is also worn for religious or spiritual reasons to where the wearer may wear sacred symbols, amulets or talismans that either aids them spiritually by protecting them from evil or bringing them good will. They may also wear these items of jewellery to signify that they belong to a specific religious group.