17th Century Bracelets. Below are some examples of 17th century bracelets including a lace band made of human hair and a Spanish gold bracelet.
Bracelet 17th century Spanish The elegantly detailed engraved ornament on the interior of the gold links identifies this as Spanish work.
Reference: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Band of needle lace worked in human hair. It forms a rectangular band with the main elements of the design repeating upside down from a centre point so that it can be viewed from either end. The lace shows a coat of arms, depicted in three shields. The arms have not yet been identified. The shields run down the centre of the band with a pattern of acorns, oak leaves, strawberries, and other flowers down the sides. The lace is worked in light and darker brown hair with the pattern outlined with buttonhole stitches over a thicker hair, possibly horsehair.
Because of their fragility, very few pieces of needle lace worked in hair survive from the 17th century. They are usually in the shape of a narrow band, like this. One example has loops at the ends, suggesting that it was meant to be fastened around something. It seems most likely that such pieces were worn around the wrist, as a bracelet.
A reference in the English poet John Donne’s poem ‘The Relique’, written in the early 17th century, suggests that bracelets worked in hair were given and worn as love tokens:
When my grave is broke up againe Some second ghest to entertaine … And he that digs it, spies A bracelet of bright haire about the bone, Will he not let us alone And thinke that there a loving couple lies …
This piece of lace is worked in light and darker brown hair, which is probably human. The pattern has been outlined with a thicker hair, which may be horsehair.
Reference: © Victoria and Albert Museum
A pair of gold, enamel, ruby and diamond bracelets, late 16th-early 17th century Each with three rectangular green enamel plaques with white enamel borders, set with a central table-cut diamond and four rubies, all in box-collets, connected by three rows of flattened curb-link chains, each clasp engraved on the reverse with a pair of clasped hands surmounted by a crowned heart motif, the bracelets join to form a choker, later French import marks, bracelet length 19.5cm approximately (2)
Sold for £ 5,250 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2016
A PAIR OF MUGHAL INSET AND ENAMELLED GOLD BRACELETS North India or the Deccan, late 17th or early 18th century Of tubular construction terminating in two confronted makara head finials, the exterior of each band inset with a navaratna sequence of different coloured stones divided by diamond-inset leaves, the interior of each with white flowerheads on a green ground, very slight restoration of enamel 3¼in. (8.3cm.) across (2)
Sold for GBP 9,560 at Christie’s in 2002
Renaissance period (17th C.) Sleeve bracelet. 20k gold, German, circa 1630. Ornate pattern featuring flowers, leaves, and berries, chased and enameled on all sides. Very fine repousse and basket-woven design. Rose-tone gold on interior of bracelet. Very good condition. Approximately 2 inches wide, with an overall diameter of 3.5 inches. Total weight of 109 grams.
Sold for $4,400 at Tremont Auctions in 2018
A MASSIVE INDIAN GOLD BANGLE WITH SNAKE HEADS Northern India, c. 17th – 18th century. The massive gold bangle is open, the two ends are crafted in the form of snakes’ heads with large eyes and open mouths showing wide tongues and many teeth.
Sold for €5,000 at Galerie Zacke in 2019
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