Joden Girl
Baubles, Bling and A Collector’s Things
Today, we find ourselves in the days between Christmas and the new year. The gifts have been given, there’s holiday debris at every turn and no one knows what day it is. The holiday haze is real. Pajamas are worn all day long, cookies are consumed with no regard for calorie content or stomach upset, and everyone is piled up on the couch binge-watching everything from Fuller House to Stranger Things. In a dazed state of confusion, we will stumble through the five days between the Christmas extravaganza and the all-night New Year’s Eve celebration. On December 31st, we will resume drinking, dancing and playing games, all the while deluding ourselves into believing that we can still recover like we did in our twenties.
People have been celebrating the transition to a new year for more than 4000 years. Victorians leaned heavily onto superstition and social rituals that would ensure good luck and prosperity in the new year. First-footing, an ancient custom that centered on the first person to cross the threshold after midnight, was favored in every household. Both the physical appearance of the guest and what gifts they brought would dictate the fortune or perhaps misfortune of the days and months to come. A dark-haired man with a bit of salt and a dram of whiskey was much preferred to a lady with ginger locks. The ringing of bells was another popular practice – this was often done while attending lavish parties. Women donned their finest gowns… each one more elaborate than the last while gentlemen sported formal tailcoats with vests and bow ties.
Symbolic jewelry completed the look. Nature themes (flowers, leaves, ivy and acorns) that predicted growth and transformation were favored choices. This stunning bracelet from the 1870’s would have been a winner on many levels. Comprised of four identical links, this 18-karat and 22-karat yellow gold bracelet is a true showstopper. Forming the background of each large link is a navette-shaped piece of natural tortoiseshell. Mottled brown and auburn hues allow light to pass through, enhancing the piece. A curved golden plate creates a frame around each piece of shell with a small vine decorating each corner. Centered on the exposed tortoiseshell is a wreath of roses, each petal and leaf made in dimensional detail by hand. Separating each large link are four tall, narrow components. Each of these segments also feature a leafy vine with a singular rose blossom in the center. Bursting with botanical beauty, this bracelet is truly worthy of Joe’s Special Box; it’s available for $8,150.00. May the new year bring you peace, prosperity and happiness.
“You can go to a museum and look, or come to us and touch.”
Written by Carrie Martin
Photos by Dana Jerpe
