Adornment with jewellery likely began with the hunting trophy. Hunters and gatherers in the mists of prehistory made their jewellery from bones and teeth, feathers, horns and antlers. The brave hunter conveyed prestige and standing when he wore a row of fangs from the sabre-toothed tiger. Magic was no less important, since it was believed that the strength of the animal passed to the hunter.

Time and again, the name Pioté appears in the family story of A. E. Köchert, so a little history is in order here.
Emanuel Pioté learned the art of goldsmithing in Limoges, renowned since the 17th century as a leading centre of enamelling. The true mastery of this art lay in the skillful bonding of enamel to its precious metal base – gold, platinum or silver – while using technique and dexterity to achieve luminous colours and the finest brushwork.

August Iffland was one of the most highly esteemed actors of the German classical theatre. And – rightly so – not without vanity. Likely inspired by Lessing’s Ring Parable, Iffland had several rings made with each bearing his likeness; he distributed them among his acting colleagues.