Historic Gold- Renaissance Gold Chain

Mel Fisher was a very famed man who led a life of search and discovery. His famed became international when he discovered the Spanish sunken galleon, Nuestra Señora de Atocha, and pulled this piece of Historic Gold to the surface from its watery grave.

The historical gold chain, now a part of Mel Fisher’s Treasures, measures a full four feet long of 24 karot gold chain. The necklace was designed for its segments to be easily unhinged for the purposes of instant trade. This historic gold piece showed the significance of gold as wealth and its function in the early trading world.

To this day 300 silver bars, and 8 bronze cannons are still missing from the ship. The Nuestra Señora de Atocha also contained a stern castle which is considered the wealthiest part of the ship; it has also not been found. A vast amount of The Nuestra Señora de Atocha’s wealth is still searched for to this day in the Florida Keys by divers, historians, and prospective gold owners.

Cash 4 Gold

Sources: http://www.gold.org/jewellery/about_gold_jewellery/historic-pieces/renaissance_gold_chain/

Historic Gold- Cellini Salt Cellar

Next up on the Cash4Gold blog’s Historic Gold segment is the famed and extremely high valued Cellini Salt Cellar. Benvenuto Cellini, a celebrated and famed artist from the Renaissance period, created the Cellini Salt Cellar piece in Paris working under commission from France’s first renaissance monarch, Francis the First. The Cellini Salt Cellar is the only work known to be done in gold by the famed artists and thus is value is momentous. The work, sometimes referred to as the “Mona Lisa of Sculpture” was created to symbolize the unity of Earth(represented by the female figure) and the Sea(represented by the male figure).

The famous Cellini Salt was stolen from the Kunsthistorisches Museum in 2003, however it was recovered in 2006 in Austria. After its theft, the sculpture was promptly insured with consideration to its golden make up and historic significance. In 2010, the Cellini Salt Cellar’s insured and estimated worth was 64.5 million US dollars.

Sources and Photos: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/26/arts/design/26cell.html?_r=1

The Byzantine Ring

This stunning piece of history dating back Byzantine period is next up on our Historic Gold segment. The Byzantine Ring was given “almost 900 years before the first diamond engagement ring was recorded. “

The World Gold Council states:

“It is solid and simple in design, prefiguring the modest authority of the classic gold band of today. This comparative lack of ornamentation makes the eye focus upon a single image; the ring is deeply engraved with a portrayal of the nimbate (floating, as on a cloud) figure of Christ joining the hands of a man and woman in marriage. It also bears a one word inscription – OMONIA – which translates as ‘harmony’ or ‘unity’.”

The ancient Byzantine Wedding Ring of the past followed by a Modern Wedding Ring of today.

Wedding rings have been traditionally viewed as one of the most widely worn objects requiring the use of gold. Gold has traditional and cultural value in its use for wedding rings with some cultures even fearing bad luck or bad omens associated with wearing non-golden wedding rings. But gold also has a practical reason for its use in the precious golden ring, and that is its durability and strong natural defense from corrosion. The fact that the Byzantine Ring used gold hundreds of years ago and the modern wedding rings of today still use the same precious metal signify the powerful and long lasting properties of gold that allow the valuable metal to stand the test of time.

Pictures and sources from:

http://www.gold.org/jewellery/about_gold_jewellery/historic-pieces/byzantine_marriage_ring/ and http://goldprice.org/gold-jewellery/2006/04/gold-wedding-ring.html

Historic Gold- Oxus Treasure

Up next on Historic Gold is the Oxus Treasure, a group of 170 gold and silver items from the Achaemenid Persian period (500 B.C) that were found by the Oxus River in central Asia. The precious metals from this incredible find are located in both the Victoria and Albert Museum and in the British Museum (where various other pieces of our blog’s “Historic Gold” segments can be found).

How much are these pieces worth? From bracelets to giant fish models of pure gold, think millions…per item. Even the smallest of the gold findings in the Oxus Treasure have become precious and impossible to price. Though the items could be reproduced by current gold holdings, their value is in historic age, which makes them unique.

Here are more photos of the Oxus Treasure:

Photo: Gold Fish statue of pure gold from the Oxus Treasure, by Nickmard Khoey

Photo: Gold Statue from the Oxus Treasure, from the British Musuem

Photo: Lion-Griffin ornament from the Oxus Treasure, British Musuem.

Source and more information at: http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/article_index/o/the_oxus_treasure.aspx

Historic Gold- Clasps from Tillya Tepe

Up next in historic gold is the Clasps from Tillya Tepe, dating back to 1 BC. The words

'Tillya Trepe" directly translates to "Golden Mound" or "Golden Hills" and are a reference to the famed archelogical site in modern day Afghanistan were the clasps were discovered.

The design of the clasps show that they were made for wear by a male, and a wealthy one at that. On the claps are two golden warriors, surrounded by a border of birds, beasts, and flowers.

The World Gold Council states:

"The influence of Greece (the tunic) and Persia or Assyria (the kilt-like skirt) seems apparent. Designed as a closure for a cloak, the pugilistic nature of the pieces might hint at bravery and

protection for the wearer."

This piece of historic gold is currently on display at the National Museum of Afghanistan.

source: http://www.gold.org/jewellery/about_gold_jewellery/historic-pieces/clasps_from_tillya_tepe/

Historic Gold- Mesopotamian Headdress

Gold is constantly in the eyes of consumers and investors in today’s world. Even more so now that countries like China and India are becoming overwhelmingly more involved in the consumption of gold. But gold has always been around, and its place in history has been valued since the dawn of ancient civilizations.

Image © Trustees of The British Museum

The Mesopotamia Headdress is a piece of historic gold from the Mesopotamia period which dates past 5000 BC. In Mesopotamian culture, the number eight was a symbol of the afterlife and the journey to it by the passing soul. This piece of historic jewelry would have been traditionally worn as a funerary Headdress.

The Mesopotamia Headdress can be seen with eight golden leaves that were hand hammered and beautifully crafted for the historic piece.

The era of the Headdress was also credited to introduce large scale economies. The Carnelias and Lapis Lazuli pictured in the Headdress would have to have been imported especially from another region, symbolizing the importance of trade. The need to import materials for the headdress also symbolized the importance of precious metals and materials.

The ancient piece can be found in The British museum.

Source: http://www.gold.org/jewellery/about_gold_jewellery/historic-pieces/mesopotamian_headdress/