Editing Jewellery (section)

=== Africa ===

==== Egypt ====
{{Main|Art of ancient Egypt#Jewelry}}
The first signs of established jewellery making in [[Ancient Egypt]] was around 3,000–5,000 years ago.<ref name="Reader 1986">Reader's Digest Association. 1986. The last 2 million years. ''Reader's Digest''. {{ISBN|0864380070}}</ref> The [[Egyptians]] preferred the luxury, rarity, and workability of [[gold]] over other metals. In [[Predynastic Egypt]] jewellery soon began to symbolise political and religious power in the community. Although it was worn by wealthy Egyptians in life, it was also worn by them in death, with jewellery commonly placed among [[grave goods]].

In conjunction with gold jewellery, Egyptians used coloured [[glass]], along with semi-precious gems. The colour of the jewellery had significance. Green, for example, symbolised fertility. [[Lapis lazuli]] and silver had to be imported from beyond the country's borders.

Egyptian designs were most common in [[Phoenicia]]n jewellery. Also, ancient [[Turkey|Turkish]] designs found in [[Persia]]n jewellery suggest that trade between the Middle East and [[Europe]] was not uncommon. Women wore elaborate gold and silver pieces that were used in ceremonies.<ref name="Reader 1986" />

<gallery widths="170px" heights="170px">
Tutankhamun pendant with Wadjet.jpg|Pectoral (chest jewellery) of [[Tutankhamun]]; 1336–1327&nbsp;BC (Reign of Tutankhamun); gold, silver and meteoric glass; height: 14.9&nbsp;cm (5.9&nbsp;in); [[Egyptian Museum]] (Cairo)
Clevelandart 1989.39.jpg|Pendant; {{circa|1069 BC}}; gold and turquoise; overall: {{convert|5.1x2.3|cm}}; [[Cleveland Museum of Art]] ([[Cleveland]])
Anillo de Sheshonq (46627183381).jpg|Signet ring; 664–525&nbsp;BC; gold; diameter: {{convert|3x3.4|cm}}; [[British Museum]] (London)
Pectoral and Necklace of Sithathoryunet with the Name of Senwosret II MET DT531.jpg|Pectoral and necklace of Princess [[Sithathoriunet]]; 1887–1813&nbsp;BC; gold, [[carnelian]], [[lapis lazuli]], [[turquoise]], [[garnet]] and [[feldspar]]; height of the pectoral: {{convert|4.5|cm}}; [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]] (New York City)
</gallery>
[[File:WLANL - petertf - Handje van Fatima.jpg|thumb|''[[Hamsa|Khmissa]]'' [[amulet]] in silver]]

==== Maghreb countries in North Africa ====
{{Main|Jewellery of the Berber cultures}}
[[Jewellery of the Berber cultures]] is a style of traditional jewellery worn by women and girls in the rural areas of the [[Maghreb]] region in [[North Africa]] inhabited by indigenous [[Berbers|Berber people]] (in [[Berber languages|Berber language]]: ''Amazigh, Imazighen'', pl). Following long social and cultural traditions, the [[silversmith]]s of different ethnic Berber groups of Morocco, Algeria and neighbouring countries created intricate jewellery to adorn their women and that formed part of their ethnic [[Identity (social science)|identity]]. Traditional Berber jewellery was usually made of silver and includes elaborate brooches made of triangular plates and pins ([[Fibula (brooch)|fibula]]), originally used as clasps for garments, but also necklaces, bracelets, earrings and similar items.

Another major type is the so-called [[Hamsa|''khmissa'']] (local pronunciation of the [[Arabic language|Arabic]] word "khamsa" for the number "five"), which is called ''afus'' in the [[Berber languages|Berber language]] (''Tamazight)''. This form represents the five fingers of the hand and is traditionally believed both by [[Muslims]] as well as [[Jews|Jewish people]] to protect against the [[evil eye]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Camps-Fabrer |first=Henriette |date=1991-12-01 |title=Bijoux |url=https://journals.openedition.org/encyclopedieberbere/1758 |journal=Encyclopédie berbère |language=fr |issue=10 |pages=1496–1516 |doi=10.4000/encyclopedieberbere.1758 |issn=1015-7344 |doi-access=free |access-date=2023-12-08 |archive-date=2023-07-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718082917/https://journals.openedition.org/encyclopedieberbere/1758 |url-status=live}}</ref>