 Amulets and Symbols in Jewelry Design
Whether you call them amulets, charms, fetishes, or talismans, virtually every culture had them. I like to think of them as little works of art, but they are so much more than that. They were worn on the body to bring luck, heal, enhance fertility, protect against injury (during travel, hunting, or from bites and stings) or ward off evil, depending on the wearers beliefs and intentions. They came in many forms, made with different materials, and adorned with different symbols. The meaning and significance in the symbolism of a particular image changed from east to west, culture to culture, and even day to day. Even if you do not believe in their magical powers, it is fun to know the intention of the artists who created them, and the power felt by the person who wore them before you, as many of the pieces are antiques. Below is a list of amulets and symbols found in many of the pendants and beads in KatieO jewelry.  Bull:
The bull has been used as a symbol of power, endurance, strength, divinity, royalty, fertility, and the elemental forces of nature. The bull was the most important of all sacrificial animals. It has represented both the sun and moon, earth and sky, rain and heat, and male and feminine ( mainly due to the crescent shape of the horns) principles.The bulls traits of bellowing, horn tossing, and energy has linked it with thunder and earthquakes. In Ancient Egypt the bull was considered to be the carrier of the life force and was originally used as a fertility symbol exclusively. The bull is the animal incarnation of many of the supreme Middle Eastern Gods. In parts of Norhern Europe and India the bull is an emblem of divine power. In China the bull is a symbol of protection, strength and masculine energy. In Chinese Astrology people born in the year of the Bull or Ox, is considered to be a born leader, intelligent, dependable, persistent, and powerful. In the Western Zodiac the Bull orTaurus, is thought to be practical, reliable, warmhearted and determined. Photos: Top Left: Bull Ring, from the Mens Heritage Collection Bottom Right: Bull Ring, from the Mens Heritage Collection El Toro, from the Fringe Collection.
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