Jewellery Stamps from Europe

My previous post on Indian Postage stamps on jewellery elicited some comments from readers Ann Schroeder and Rozantia Petkova which directed me to jewellery stamps of the world. I found out that several countries have stamps featuring gold jewellery and wanted to share a collection here. In this post, I want to share information on 30 jewellery stamps from Europe.

Jewellery Stamps from Europe

Romania

These stamps showcase jewellery from Dinogetia – a Geto-Dacian settlement. Two stamps show rings and links. The stamp worth Lei 3.00: has a gilded silver ring, a gold ring, and a golden link. The stamp worth Lei 9.10 shows a picture of a gold link and a silver ring. I love the architectural rings and the detailed coins issued between 976 and 1025. The last stamp shows a Byzantine crucifix or the reliquary cross from Dinogetia.

The ones you see above are from Romania as well. They showcase jewellery from a Roman Dacia settlement. See the cameo detailing on the ring and the animal head finials on the bracelet/armband.

Greece

This collage of stamps showcase a fantastical collection of Greek jewellery. While my favourite is the snake armband with rubies for its similarity to the Indian angadha, I am fascinated by the cone shaped earrings (8th Century B.C.) as well. Similar armbands and waistbelt can be seen at the Met museum in USA. The Necklace with tiles and cylindrical pins is said be from 730 B.C. and the necklace with acorns and bull head is from 5th Century B.C.

I found the following stamps with Hellas mark indicating that they are from Greece. However, the jewellery is from Crete (location) and Mycenean civilisation. They seem to be a set of stamps commemorating the 100 years of Mycenae excavations in 1976. The stamps include a gold diadem (from a grave circle) and a silver pin with a gold goddess figure. Is this a Cretan Goddesses I wonder? I was thrilled to see one with the mask as this is an image I often use in my class presentation about the Mycenean culture.

Cyprus

Here is a set of stamps showing an extraordinary array of gold jewellery stamps from Cyprus. There is a necklace with gold beads and frontlet from 13th century BC Engomi. The necklace with coins is from Skaletta (18th-19th Century A.D.) The spiral piece is a hair ring and the one with charms is a pin. The buckle is from 18th-19 century and reminds me of Malaysian buckles. Below find a stamp with a charm necklace and another with a hinged bangle bracelet.

What strikes me here are the connections to Greek, Persian and Indian jewellery. While this is the first time I am coming across jewellery from Cyrprus, I have seen a pair similar to the flower+cupid earrings from Marion (3rd Century B.C.) at the Met Museum – Greece section. Infact, I made an earring for myself using a circular flower stud and cupid charms based on those earrings.

Ukraine

In 2008 Ukraine – Azerbaijan Jointly Issued two jewellery stamps. The first is an image of a pendant/earring from 12-13th century and the second is a pendant of a filigree necklace.

 

France

This is a 1953 stamp showing a strand of pearls, a brooch/pin and a bracelet. It belongs to the series titled “Exports in Jewelry and metalsmith’s work.” The stones could be diamonds or rhinestone/paste. Please share if you know more about it.

With this post on jewellery stamps from Europe, I have only scratched the tip of the iceberg. Several countries across the world have issued jewellery stamps. While the jewellery is fascinating by itself, it will be interesting to understand how and why these pieces were selected to be represented. What their materials, forms, and symbolism depict? Furthermore, what information do they share about the country that issued them? This makes me wonder if I should write a series on jewellery stamps. South America alone would warrant a full post.

What do you think? Would you be interested to read them?

I hope you find it interesting
Cheers