The Use of the Men’s Jewelry Box and Jewelry by Tribal Men

Tribal men wear jewelry not just to look good but also to show off the influence and power they have in their own tribe. Men are usually as heavily adorned with ornaments as the women in the tribe. A men’s jewelry box would sure to come in handy considering the number of ornaments they possess.

The use of jewelry as a symbol of one’s power as it wasn’t easy to lay your hands on precious metals and gems. They wear their jewelry as a badge when visiting a different tribe as it acts as a identification.

Some tribes in Egypt, used jewelry to express their religious beliefs in their circle. It was common practice to adorn their dead with extravagant ornaments. Most of the early pieces of jewelry made in the country are from gold, glass, and precious gems and is symbolic of a life experience or event.

African tribes are also very similar to their Egyptian counterparts, as they mostly adorn themselves to show their religious beliefs. Some of the pieces they wear are for protection against evil spirits or a good luck charm that can give them abundant produce. In the Dogon tribe of Mali, just like in other tribes, jewelry is worn as a form of identifying the tribe and the position of the person in the tribe.

In the Americas, the use of jewelry was first seen in American Indian tribes. The design of jewelry from one tribe is unique from the other, thus allowing them to show which tribe they belong to. Their jewelry is deeply rooted in the traditions and culture of their tribes. This particular feature of Native Americans allows us today to see how they lived their lives in tribes.

The adornments made by Native American Indians were extraordinarily intricate with the use of various materials like steel, gold, and turquoise. Necklaces, earrings, and brooches are some of the most common pieces of jewelry made during those times.

Men’s jewelry boxes in those days were made of materials found abundantly in their location. The main use of jewelry boxes was to protect their jewelry from enemies and to prevent natural corrosion. Gold, silver, or ivory were usually the materials of choice in Africa, while those living in Asia preferred wood, china, or silk.

These intricately carved boxes were commonly referred to as ‘jewelry chests’ or ‘treasure chests’. In Egypt, it was the custom to bury their Pharaohs with their jewelry neatly packed in these ornamental boxes.

In modern times, these jewelry boxes have evolved into ‘accessory boxes’ and ‘valets’ and are used for storing not just men’s jewelry but also their electronic gadgets. Several of these valets come with electrical charging points for their laptops, mobile phones, iPods, etc.

The use of jewelry by men has certainly evolved over time. You will still find tribal men in various parts of the globe, proudly displaying their ornaments. Interestingly, the modern metro male is not very far behind!

The Author

This article on tribal men’s use of jewelry box and jewelry was written by Ryan Monton of MarqART Gift Shop.

Our wood designs are original works of art, no two creations are the same. Each wood shown has its own unique wood grain pattern and color. MarqART comes from combining the words marquetry (wood inlay) + Art (a creation of beauty) an apt name for our products. A fine addition to your dressing table or as a gift.

For more choices of jewelry boxes, please visit marqartgiftshop.com.