Discovering the National Collections: Jewellery from Antiquity to Present Day

Discover the extraordinarily diverse world of jewellery through the collections at the National Museum of Scotland.  

From antiquity to present day, we will explore our fascination with adornment and discover how trade, culture and craftsmanship pushed the boundaries of jewellery-making around the world.

You will learn about the cultural values and symbols of the ancient to the modern world, the power and attraction of gold and precious stones and more natural materials such as shells, bone and feathers.  

To support your learning, the course teacher will introduce you to the National Museum of Scotland’s reference library, an invaluable resource with an extensive collection of books on this glittering subject.

Any essential or recommended reading will be shared by the course teacher once the course is confirmed to run.  

You will require access to a device with an internet connection. Bringing a notebook would be beneficial. Please note that we will be walking in the museum between artworks. 

If you have fully engaged with all the learning activities and have attended regularly, by the end of the course you should be able to:

• Engage with and interpret the jewellery in the galleries and collections throughout NMS;
• Appreciate the materials and techniques used in the making of jewellery throughout history;
• Understand the styles and cultural importance of jewellery across the world. 

This course is for those with little or no experience of art or art history.  

We welcome all and are committed to fostering a positive culture and sense of community among learners and staff. We expect learners to treat others with dignity and respect. Learners must be aged 16+.

If you have a disability, learning difficulty, health condition, or personal circumstances which may affect your learning, please let us know so that we can make appropriate adjustments in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.  

Wherever possible, we mainstream adjustments in line with the University’s accessible and inclusive learning policy. 

Learners will have limited access to the University’s student support services who will signpost appropriate local sources of support. 

There are no specific entry requirements for this course. Please note that there will be walking involved in this course at the National Museum of Scotland.

You will need to have reading, listening and communication skills, including the ability to understand detailed ideas and information presented orally and in writing. You must be comfortable studying in English if it is not your first language. You will need basic digital skills, such as using a computer and navigating a website, to access the study materials. 

Please note that the course booking deadline is 8 days before the course start date.