Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1905-03-11
ORIENTAL JEWELRY.
PERSONAL ORNAMENTS MIXED WITH
ODD SUPERSTlTIONS.

ODD SOPehS ~ iONO'
Necklaces That Avert the EVIL Eye
and Beads That Are Potent Charms
For Felicity-Legend of the Kaaba
Stone-The Sacred signet Ring.
The oriental's love of luxury, splen-
dor Of attire and personal adornment
acts rs a strong incentive to the eastern
jeweler in the production of those ex-
Guisitely carved and multicolored crea-
tions over which the modern world
raves and marvels. Nor are such deco
rations mere ornaments without other
use or meaning.
The oriental jeweler, seated upon the
floor of his little shop, inhalinS the fra
grant odors of his pipe and coffee, con-
ceives his design and jealousy envel-
OBS 1t with mysticism. adding to it the
quaint charm of symbol and supersti-
ton. The bracelet, the earrings, the
necklace, the clasp, the buckle and the
button grow step by step into a special
ornament according to the rank
means. tastes and wants of the wearer,
an evidence Of class and dignity.
Bracelets are by Otientals worn IN
pairs. Each hand is provided with one,
as otherwise jealousy will spring up
between the manual members and evil
deeds will follow. Earrings are popu-
lar among both sexes In certain parts
of the orient. The ears are pierced at
birth. The perforations are made I'M
necessarily large so as not to permit q
residue of gossip Then ornaments are
offered the ears as consolation. Neck
laces are worn most conspicuously to
avert the evil eye and to denote dig
nifty and distinction. Festoon neck
laces seem to have been in vogue from
time immemorial, and not infrequently
do they adorn the whole chest or the
wearer. In India the men often Dor
row their wives necklaces to decorate
themselves with Masculine vanity or
certain sects Of the PerSians far ex-
ceeds that Of women, and. aside from
wearing earrings and necklaces, they
almost monopolize the tiny seed pearls
by strlnging them in their boards, each
hair being literally covered with ius-
trous pearl.
Beads are among the earliest forms
of ornaments and are considered po-
tent charms for felicity, as these are
often cut and sold by priests or sheiks'
who maintain themselves solely by this
means. The pear shaped drop so much
in vogue in Europe and America Is OF
decidedly oriental origin and has at
tached to it q quaint myth. The Kaa-
ba stone in Mecca has this peculiar
shape. and, according to the theory OF
the Mohammedans, this stone was the
actual guardian angel who was sent to
watch over Adam in Eden and was
present at his fall. AS punishment
for not having more vlgllantly exc
cuted his trust the angel was changed
into a stone and hurled from paradise.
Most Mohammedans wear pearl shaped
pendants made Of wood or some pre-
cious stone as a reminder Of Allah
wrath, and these are held among them
in the same esteem as is the cross
among the Christians.
Armlets are regarded as caste marks
and are worn only by women. AnkletS
have healing power and so are worn
not as ornaments only. Little thinking
bells are often attached to these, which
lend a pleasing sound to an approach
ing step and serve to denote the su
periority and rank Of the wearer and
thus in passing render due homage
An Arabian poet describes these as
"the awakeners Of dormant senses"
Rings are worn in great profusior
and are made Of all sorts Of metals
However, they invariably have ex
ouisitely carved or openwork shanks
Even the stones have their symbols
and are worn accordingly. In the
orient no prejudice exists agalns'
opals.
Signet rings were of great importance
among the earlier Orientals, and ever
to the present day letters are rarely
otherwise signed by those who senC
them. Thus the authenticity Of al
orders and communications, ever
merchants bills, depends wholly upOr
an impression Of a signet ring. The
occupation Of the seal cutter is regard
ed as one of great trust and danger
Such a person is obliged to keep reg
lister Of every ring seal he makes, anC
If one be lost or stolen from the party
for whom it was cut his life woulc
answer for making another just like it
The loss of signet ring is regarded al
q disastrous calamity, and the alarm
which an oriental exhibits at the los
of the signet can only be understood
by a reference to these circumstances
as the seal cutter is always obliged t
alter the real date at which the sea
was cut. The only resource Of a per
son who has lost his seal is to have
another made with new date and Il
write to bis correspondents to inform
them that all accounts, contracts an(
communications to which his forme
signet is affixed are null from the da!
on which it was lost.-Jewelers' Circu
lar-Weekly.