During the first meeting of the Erasmus Plus HAND! project at the Libertarian School “Albero della Tuscia” in Farnese (VT), elementary school children embarked on a fascinating journey to discover Etruscan jewelry.
The presenter, Marianna Iurlo, told the story of the Etruscans, the ancient people of central Italy known for their skill in the art of goldsmithing, and explained how jewelry was not mere ornaments, but authentic symbols of wealth, protection and spirituality.
The boys and girls learned that these precious objects, made of gold, silver, bronze, amber, and semi-precious stones, were embellished with refined techniques such as filigree, granulation, and especially embossing, which allows the creation of three-dimensional reliefs on metal. During the presentation, special attention was paid to the meaning of the symbols: the Sun represented life, light and energy, while the Moon was associated with the mysterious passage into the afterlife; the Serpent represented protection and renewal, the Eagle expressed power and connection with the heavens, and the Horse evoked nobility and strength. In addition, the Circle and Spiral recalled the continuous cycle of life, fertility and prosperity, while plants and flowers engraved on jewelry suggested rebirth and abundance. Some jewelry even featured formulas or incantations, intended to protect the wearer and connect the earthly world to the divine.
To make this journey through time even more tangible, photographs of jewelry found in Etruscan tombs and housed in the Vulci museum were shown, giving children a direct visual connection to the past.
Next, participants put what they learned into practice by making a band bracelet. Using a copper plate, the children experimented with the embossing technique: with the help of a die-cutting machine, a relief design was imprinted, which was then refined with burins to define the details. During the making of the bracelet, hot glue was used to fill in the reliefs and make the edges of the foil less sharp, thus providing greater security. In addition, through the use of jeweler’s pliers, terminals were applied to the bead and connector rings inserted, for an accurate and professional finish.
This first meeting, aimed to combine learning about Etruscan history and culture with the direct experience of metalworking, strengthening the children’s sense of cultural belonging and creativity. A course that transformed knowledge into a concrete experience, stimulating creativity, teamwork and the discovery and appreciation of the artistic and historical heritage of the past.
