Jesus On The Mound
1990s Contemporary Interior Prints
Lithograph, Offset
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1980s American Modern Contemporary Art
Paper
1980s Modern Abstract Prints
Offset, Lithograph
20th Century Egyptian Posters
Paper, Linen
20th Century Egyptian Revival Beds and Bed Frames
Wood, Giltwood
Vintage 1970s German Modern Posters
Paper
20th Century Egyptian Decorative Art
Linen, Paper
1980s Modern Abstract Prints
Lithograph, Offset
Late 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Prints
Paper
Vintage 1950s French Posters
Paper
Vintage 1950s Egyptian Posters
Paper
Vintage 1930s Italian Art Deco Animal Sculptures
Murano Glass
Vintage 1950s French Posters
Paper
20th Century French Modern Posters
Paper
Vintage 1950s Egyptian Posters
Paper
Vintage 1960s Egyptian Posters
Paper
Vintage 1960s German Posters
Paper
Recent Sales
2010s Spanish Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Amethyst, Garnet, Peridot, Quartz, Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Spanish Contemporary Hoop Earrings
Peridot, Quartz, Topaz, Amethyst, Garnet, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Spanish Contemporary Hoop Earrings
Topaz, Amethyst, Garnet, Peridot, Quartz, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Spanish Contemporary Hoop Earrings
Amethyst, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Spanish Contemporary Hoop Earrings
Garnet, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Spanish Contemporary Hoop Earrings
Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Spanish Contemporary Hoop Earrings
Amethyst, Garnet, Peridot, Quartz, Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Antique 1860s Russian Russian Empire Pendant Necklaces
Silver
A Close Look at contemporary Jewelry
Contemporary jewelry is inextricably linked with the moment in which it is created, frequently reflecting current social, cultural and political issues such as environmental consciousness, identity and sustainability. It’s informed by fashion trends, from the chokers of the 1990s to the large chain necklaces of the early 2000s.
Jewelry is one of the oldest forms of adornment. Lockets made of silver or gold have been treasured gifts for hundreds of years, for example, and charm bracelets, which have existed since prehistoric times, didn’t become especially popular until the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria. For many centuries, fine jewelry was used primarily to express wealth or status through lavish materials. Then, in the 1960s, a concept known as the “critique of preciousness” emerged, with jewelers creating pieces that did not get their value from gemstones or precious metals. Instead, it was the jeweler’s artistic vision that was prized and elevated.
This shift still informs Contemporary jewelry being made by artists today. Whether they are using cheap, found materials and working with provocative geometric shapes or seeking out the rarest stones, they are imbuing their work with meaning through their skills, techniques and ideas. Innovative designers such as Elsa Peretti, who popularized sculptural sterling-silver jewelry for Tiffany & Co., and David Yurman, who twisted metal into the simple yet striking Cable bracelet, have also influenced the direction of Contemporary jewelry’s forms and aesthetics.
Meanwhile, technological advancements like metal alloys and laser engraving have led to new possibilities in jewelry design. Now, edgy makers and brands as well as minimalist designers are pushing Contemporary jewelry forward into the 21st century.
Find a collection of Contemporary rings, earrings, necklaces and other jewelry on 1stDibs.