Beauty and Intricacy: Jewellery of the Early Islamic World
- Date
- 14 Jan 2026 · 6:00PM - 7:00PM
- Price
- Pay what you can: £7 or £10
- Venue
- Online (via Zoom), UK time
- Programme type
- Talks
What role did geometry and abstraction play in early Islamic jewellery? How were goldsmithing techniques perfected during this period and how did these technological advancements impact the scale and intricacy of the work? Discover how design traditions from the Islamic world are still used across jewellery making practices today.
Join jewellery historian Jack Odgen for an online talk exploring the beauty and craftsmanship of early Islamic jewellery. From Spain to Central Asia, the medieval Islamic world produced some of the most intricate gold jewellery in history. Find out how artistry flourished due to an abundance of gold, highly skilled artisans, and techniques refined over centuries. Discover how religious restrictions on figural depictions, encouraged jewellers to master new approaches, perfecting patterns and arrangements drawing on Islamic skills in geometry. The craftsmen remain mostly anonymous from this time, hear how their works have survived in collections worldwide, allowing us to marvel at their beauty and construction today.
This talk is based on Jack’s extensive, hands-on study of Islamic jewellery spanning several decades, showcasing many examples with a focus on the jewellery’s construction and context in society.
There will be the opportunity to ask questions and join the conversation.
Image: A pair of gold earrings in filigree and granulation the Fatimid period in Egypt and Greater Syria (969–1171 CE). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.1979.278.2a, b.
FAQs:
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Who is the speaker?
Dr Jack Ogden is a British jewellery historian specialising in the development of materials and technology. He has lectured worldwide on this subject and written numerous articles and several books. His most recent books are ‘Diamonds: an early history of the king of stones’ (Yale University Press, 2018) and ‘Jewellery technology in the ancient and medieval world’ (Brynmorgen 2024). He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and founder and past president of the Society of Jewellery Historians. He holds a Doctorate from Durham University and has earned the Gem-A Gemmology Diploma (with distinction) and the Diploma in Art Profession Law and Ethics from the Institute of Art and Law (with distinction). He is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars.