Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-09-13
ORIENTAL JEWELRY.
PERSONAL ORNAMENTS MIXED WITH
ODD sUPERsTlTIoNs.

Nccklnces That Avert the EVIL Eye
and Beads That Arc Potent Charms
For Fclicity-Legcnd of the Ixnnba
Stonc-Thc Sacred SiEnct RiAE.
dor of attire and personal adornment
acts as strong incentive to the eastern
jeweler in the production of those ex-
quiSitely carved and multicolored crea-
tiOns over which the modern world
raves and mnrvels. Nor are such deco
rations mere ornaments without other
use or meaning.
The oriental jeweler, seated upon the
floor of his little shop, inhaling the fra
grant odors of his pipe and coffee, con-
ceives his design and jealousy enyel-
ops it 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 n special
ornament according to the rank,
means, tastes and wants of the wearer,
an evidence Of class and dignity.
Bracelets are by orientals 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 rs not to permit
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 of the
wearer. In India the men often Dor
row their wives necklaces to decorate
themselves with. Masculine vanity Of
certain sects of the Perslans far ex-
ceeds that Of women, and, aside from
wearing earrings and necklaces, they
almost monopolize the tiny seed pearls
by stringing them in their boards, each
hair being literally covered with lus-
trous pearl.
Beads are among the earliest forms
of ornaments and are considered po-
tent charms for felicity, us 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 ut
tached to it quaint myth. The Kaa-
ba stone In Mecca has this peculiar
shape, and, according to the theory Of
1 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 vigilantly exc
| cuted his trust the angel was changed
into stone and hurled from paradise.
! Most AIohammedans wear pearl shaped
pendants made of wood or some pre-
| cious stone as reminder Of Allah's
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 tinkling
bells are often attached to these, which
lend pleasing sound to an approach
| ing step and serve to denote the SUI
! periorlty 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 profusion
and are made of all sorts of metals
However, they Invariably have ex-
quisitcly carved or openwork shanks.
Even the stones have their symbols
and are Worn accordingly. In the
orient no prejudice exists against
opals.
Signet rings We're of great importance
among the earlier orlentals, and even
to the present day letters are rarely
them. Thus the authenticity of all
orders and communications, even
merchants bills, depends wholly upon
an impression Of signet ring. The
occupation of the seal cutter is regard
ed MS one Of great trust and danger.
Such Il person is obliged to keep reg
lister of every ring seal lie makes, and
1
for whom it was cut his life would
answer for making another just like it..
The loss of signet ring is regarded as
n disastrous calamity, and the alarm
which an oriental exhibits Mt the loss
of the signet can only be understood
by reference to these circumstances,
as the seal cutter is always obliged to
alter the real date Mt which the seal
was cut. The only resource of n per-
son who has lest his seal is to have
another made with new date and to
write to his correspondents to inform
them that all accounts. contracts and
communications to which his former
signet is affixed are null from the day
OH which 1t was lost.-Jewelers' Circu-
lar-Weekly