The Historical Fascination Behind Insect Jewellery
The natural world has long proven to be a fantastic source of inspiration for jewellery and accessory design – and it’s certainly not hard to see why, given the vast array of different colours, shapes and patterns that can be discovered, simply just by looking out of the window.
But one particularly common motif that we’ve seen time and time again is that of the not-so-humble insect. Interestingly, where we now use precious metals to translate intricate insect shapes into beautiful jewellery, people once actually wore live insects as fashion accessories, with the trend first starting as far back as the Ancient Egyptians!
Live jewellery was also a heavy feature in Mayan cultural traditions, so there’s a rich and illustrious history that lies behind our love of insect accessories, that’s for sure.
Of course, these pieces were particularly symbolic for the wearer during those periods, with the likes of beetles, butterflies and cicadas all associated with concepts of rebirth, immortality, courage, rejuvenation and so on.
For more modern jewellery enthusiasts, insects really started to come to the fore in the Victorian era, with insects displayed prominently as earrings, on necklaces, on rings, in hairpins, tiaras, bar brooches… the list goes on!
It’s thought that this deep interest in the insect motif started with the bee, perhaps as a reaction to the Industrial Revolution that was taking place and a deeper need to connect more with nature in the face of such expansive development and significant change.
There was also huge interest in exploring the natural world from a scientific perspective during Victorian times, which clearly spilled over into jewellery design… something that we here in the 21st century can certainly be grateful for!
These days, there are countless beautiful pieces that can be found, all inspired by different insects from all over the world, and they’re a wonderful way to bring your outfits to life. So if you’re currently looking for a new addition to your jewellery box, perhaps stick with centuries-old tradition and find your favourite insect in brooch form!