The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-11-24
THE BRACELET IN HISTORY.
One Of the First Forms Of Human Adorn
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jewelers. Weekly.
The history of the bracelet is a chapter of
the history of cOQuetry. 1t is one of the
most ancient of jewels. Among the Israel
ties the gold bracelet was used alike by the
two sexes; when Juda encounters Ihainar
the latter asks in exchange of favors his
staff, his ring. and his bracelet. When Saul
had persisted by his OWL sword a warrior
despOils him of the bracelets with which
his arms were covered: "FOr the constrnc-
tion OF the tabernacle" it is said in the Ex-
odus. both men and women offered their
jewelry. among which were quantities of
rich bracelets"
The Greeks and Romans also wore brace
lets. After a time the latter abstained from
wearing then, daily; they were conferred AS
a mark OF distinction. as a souvenir of some
great act, and the possessOr guarded them
consequently as glorious decorations, and
cOntented himself with suspending them
upon his breast on days of ceremony and
triumph, In the same manner as a general
to-day wears his orders and insignias. In
this manner the bracelet became the insig-
MIA of the warrior. The plebe an classes,
the wrists and ank Ies. The Gauls were also
great lovers of the bracelet. At Pont-Aude-
mer Is to be seen Q magnificent gold bijOu
of this kind, very finely worked. 1t is at
ributed to the first part of the reign of the
MerUvIngians.
At the commencement of the sixth GEN.
tuIy. no trace is found of the bracelet in
France. A revolution has been effected in
wearing apparel as well as morals. Ladies'
wrists are ornamented with large. cOlOred
silk cuffs. embroidered with gold and pearls.
This fashion n d with the CarlOvingians.
When was the time that fashions prevailed
longer than one dynastyf Later on. ladies
wore tight and button sleeves, terminating
at the wrist; in the twelfth century. Jean
de Garlande specifies the works made by
gOldSmlths-hanaps large cups) OF gold and
silver. necklaces. pins. knots and rings. but
nothing is said of bracelets. Finally. IMAM
let composed of a piece of stuff upon which
Jewels are sewn. until finally. In the last
half of the fourteenth century, the true
metal bracelet appeared. 1t seems that it
was worn By gentlemen, although secretly.
as a kind of vow, a badge of servitude
which they pledged to the lady of their
thoughts.
The history of Jehan de Saintre, cham
berlain of King Charles vi, and of the Lady
des Bellies Cousines, bears witness to this.
When Jehan de Saintre vows eternal fdel-
ity to his lady. she demands of him to con-
stantly wear an emblem of attachment. ION
the first day OF May. which will be to-mor-
row." she tells him, you will place a gold
arm. and wear it tor a year." Next day he
comes with the bracelet which he is to wear
aud the lady herself puts it on. From about
that time this piece of jewelry has been
Cdlicu DTaCflct.
From about the middle of the fifteenth
century the bracelet became a distinctive
| piece of lar among the French Indies.
At the time of the "~DirectOire," the women
who had adopted the fashion of wearing q
robe a la ROmaine ~Ornainented their arms
with six bracelets. three on each arm-One
high up, another above the elbow, the third
at the wrist. This is not all. however; they
also wore rings on all their fingers. includ-
ing the thumb; encircled their waist with
n large sheet as belt, and wore large hoops
in their ears.
About 1880 bracelets assumed a great i'm
pOrtance. and ranked even with literature
AMI painting; i'm other words, they became
romantic" Although ii it may appear rather
bombastic to assign so high ~ place to a
piece of jewelry. nevertheless. nothing will
qualify SO well the artistic tendencies i'm
this direction of the goldsmiths of that
epoch. Bracelets appeared OIL the arms of
ladies'. composed entirely of pointed arches.
in the midst of which iron-clad warriors
kept watch and ward. 1t is easy to imagine
the enthusiasm with which they were re-
ceived. being so well III keeping with the
tendency of the peOple.
At present. finally, the fancy and caprice
of the day dictate to the jeweIer the shape,
either new or copied from former ages. to
be given to their bracelets: sometimes a
serpent twisting itself around the wrist,
gold hoops with u long jewel. a chain. etc.
The shapes vary to the infinite at present,
and many of them are due to the ingenuity
of our jewelry designs.