Saving Your Treasures: Jewelry
Types of Objects
JEWELRY
Jewelry has been used as personal ornaments throughout the ages and around the world. These small, intricate pieces of art and workmanship are very complex and often fragile.
Jewelry can be hand-made or machine-made of a variety of materials, including metals, glass, ceramics, bone, stone, shell, pearl, etc.
Anthropologists suggest the first ornaments were the by-products of a hunt, such as vertebrae, teeth, claws, and horns. Ancient and historic jewelry are often made of metals (gold, silver, alloys) or organic materials (teeth, shell, pearls, etc.).
Jewelry is cared for by objects conservators and by specialist jewelers who have studied historic and ancient technology and materials. The videos below and handouts and websites on the right will guide you in preserving your items.
If you have any questions, ask a conservator.
 Animal Materials:Skin & Leather |  Animal Materials:Hair, Hooves, Etc. |  Animal Materials:Bones, Shells, Etc. |
 Animal Materials:Deterioration |
Animal Materials: Plastics inMuseum Collections |  Plastics:Chemistry |  Plastics: Properties& Technology |
 Plastics:History |  Plastics:Deterioration |
Plastics: Stone:Origins & Properties |  Stone: Fabrication & Technology |  Stone:Deterioration |  Stone:Preventative Care |
 Glass:Origins & Properties |  Glass: Fabrication & Technology |  Glass:Deterioration |  Glass:Preventative Care |
 Metals:Origins & Properties |  Metals: Fabrication & Technology |  Metals:Deterioration |  Metals:Preventative Care |
 Ceramics:Origins & Properties |  Ceramics: Fabrication & Technology |  Ceramics:Deterioration |  Ceramics:Preventative Care |
 Issues FacingSmall Museums | Plastics in Museum Collections | Plastics: Chemistry |
| Plastics: History | Plastics: Deterioration |
TYPES OF OBJECTS