Owning a piece of African jewelry is not simply adding a piece of jewelry to your collection.

Artisans from Ghana in West Africa craft beautiful pieces of jewelry.

Owning a piece of African jewelry is owning a world of culture and history in its own beautiful form. Even though there is history and meaning behind each piece, its the art in the jewelry that grabs the attention of most collectors.

African jewelry is an ancient and time honored art form that reflects the art of African heritage and history. There are several artistic, religious, spiritual and cultural elements of African heritage visible in each uniquely crafted piece of jewelry.

Around the turn of the 10th century, when bronze work was common, crafting these pieces became more complex. Bronze pieces were normally decorated with ivory or precious stones and several of these pieces were identified with royalty. Beads have also played a very important role in African culture and can be seen today in many of the beautiful pieces of jewelry created by the skilled craftsmen who make them.

Modern African pieces still remain true to the same historic values and meanings of the past. If you go a gallery and look at various pieces of jewelry, be it old or new, you will notice several common themes on display: a couple, a woman and child, a male with either a weapon or an animal and an outsider or stranger.

These themes represent different elements of African culture and reveal the importance of each piece of jewelry, which in turn makes them so special to collectors and art lovers everywhere.

The history and meaning of each piece of jewelry is unique. It is said that owning one of these pieces provides hope, wisdom and well-being to its owner. So the next time you are out and about and come across an African art gallery, check it out because you never know what you might find to start your own personal collection.

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Picture from Giraudon/Art Resource,NY/Baule Gold Pendant