The History of Hemp Jewelry

Hemp is made from the cannabis plant.

Hemp jewelry is jewelry constructed from the fiber of the hemp plant, which is also known as the cannabis plant. Hemp has been used to make rope, cord and cloth for thousands of years; there are records of its use in the wall paintings of ancient Egypt. However, the use of hemp to create jewelry is relatively recent.

Origins

Egyptian wall art

The first recorded use of hemp is in ancient Egypt, when it was used to make rope and cord. Seshat, the Egyptian goddess of wisdom, knowledge and measuring, was associated with hemp, as she was often portrayed as measuring with a length of cord, and cord in this period would have been made out of hemp. Pharaoh Tuthmosis III (1479-1425 B.C.) is recorded as calling Seshat "she of the seven points," in a reference to the seven-pointed leaf of the hemp plant. In some depictions, Seshat has a hemp leaf with seven points displayed on her headdress.

Time Frame

In China, paper was made from hemp.

After the ancient Egyptian period, hemp was used in a variety of ways in most parts of the world. In 100 B.C., paper made from hemp and mulberry was invented in China. By 600 A.D., hemp had spread throughout Europe--the Saxons, the Franks and the Vikings all used hemp fiber. Hemp fiber was also used in China and Japan, where peasants wore clothing made from hemp cloth. However, there are no records of hemp being used to make jewelry during this period.

Development

Hemp first was used to make jewelry in the 13th and 14th centuries. Macrame, which is a craft that involves knotting to create geometric patterns, began when Arabian weavers started knotting the spare cloth at the edges of loomed fabric. European sailors took this technique back to France, Italy and Germany using hemp, the material that was available to them on ships to make rope, cord and even sails.

Popularity

Hemp jewelry was popular in the hippie movement.

Macrame continued to be used to create hemp patterns over the centuries, becoming fashionable with the British in the 19th century. However, by the early 20th century it had fallen out of fashion and didn't become popular again until the 1960s and 1970s in the United States and elsewhere, when it enjoyed a surge of popularity thanks to the hippie movement. Hemp jewelry became, for the first time, truly popular. While this interest waned in the '80s and '90s, it is popular again today, with hemp jewelry being created by many who enjoy arts and crafts.

Benefits

Creating hemp jewelry using macrame requires few instruments. It can be made without using needles or hooks. The use of hemp, a sustainable resource that doesn't involve chemicals, makes macrame an earth-friendly, natural skill. Tying a variety of knots can strengthen hands and arms, and the repetitive nature of the activity can be calming and even meditative. Hemp jewelry is hard-wearing, long-lasting and decorative. Making it places you in a tradition that stretches back for centuries.

References

• Hemp House: "Hemp History"
• Macramenia: "Macrame History"
• Teen Witch: "Twine"