Since the dawn of history, human beings have worn jewellery to adorn themselves, to declare alliances, or to communicate love to others. Jewellery has also been a practical means of transporting an investment. It has been so at all times and in all places.

Museum Jewellery presents reproductions and copies of historical jewellery from all over the world. From Sumerian times, the pharaohs of Egypt, the Hellenistic period, the Chinese dynasties of the emperors, and the Vikings of Scandinavia to the creations of Carl von Fabergé in his workshops in Paris and St. Petersburg around 1900 – a time span of more than 6000 years covering all the continents.

The jewellery displayed consists of either copies or reconstructions from original pieces. They can also be examples of inspiration, as in the case of the end pieces of the royal pendant watch that belonged to the Russian Tsar (see Russian jewellery no. 4) or as in the case of the panels on the diamond-decorated Easter egg created by Fabergé and which belonged to Catherine the Great (Russian jewellery no. 1).

With respect to the original archaeological finds, some pieces of jewellery with missing parts or scratches have been recreated just as they were found. A few changes have been made to add necessary missing parts, such as lugs, eyes, pins, etc. The reproductions are made from the same material as the originals: gold, silver, bronze.

Exceptions to this practice can be seen when gold plating is chosen instead of solid gold in order to keep prices reasonable. In such cases, the producer has used 22 carat gold plating on sterling silver. In some jewellery, the ruby is replaced by corneal or garnets.

Selling museum jewellery is also a mediation of our cultural history. With the help of the museum curators, the producer therefore endeavours to describe the origin and the history of each piece of jewellery. This description comes with any jewellery purchased.

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