Tie it Up: dealing with too-big rings
a historic how-to
I usually try to write about current trends and their historic roots. This one doesn’t have a contemporary counterpart, but it was too good to not share. And maybe someone will try it?
All the images here are from early 17th century England. Queen Elizabeth had just died and William Shakespeare’s plays like the Twelfth Night and Othello were premiering in London. In 1603, there is also an outbreak of the bubonic plague, in which 40,000 people will die. (The best of times, the worst of times?)
It was around this time, that women began the custom of tying mourning rings to their wrists with a black cord. It’s thought that the ring, had belonged to the decreased, and didn’t fit the lady’s finger.
How much do you love this look and the meaning behind it. I love the kind of fashion signaling that tells people maybe you need a little grace.
That’s the little nugget I have for you today. I’m checking off my list of holiday to-dos, which includes a lot of present wrapping, building a puppet theater and an annual re-watch of Love Actually.
Thanks for being here
Your fellow history nerd,
Amy
TIL!!
This is the historical context around fashion I'm dying to read more of!
This was beautiful. Thank you for sharing!