I sometimes wonder if Puffy Heart Charm Bracelets (yes they do deserve caps - grin) are the most popular because they represent the joy of love - or because they sound so incrediblely nice to wear…
Here is the first example of an old advertising card with the original heart charms on it that I’ve ever seen.
Victorian Puffy Hearts on original card
prime example of an original advertising card from circa 1900 with puffy heart charms
Back in the day, (i.e. before I was old and/or wise enough to know that actions had consequences), a small dog approached me on the street where I was visiting my parents. I had been on the road touring for several years, and planned to continue (best laid plans…) When he saw me, he sat up but didn’t touch - as if afraid of rejection. After he’d had a bath and food, collar, flea meds, shots and I had posted missing dog notices all over the neighborhood, I started to look for an apartment. By this point if someone had answered the lost dog ads I would have claimed I gave birth to him myself. All this was to the good as my S.I. was tired of the road. Unable to find an apartment that would take a pet we bought a small condo - a bic house (like a bic pen or lighter - use it up, throw it away.) Twenty five years later, I am still there. Smidgen enriched our lives for sixteen years, and I’d give almost anything to have him back. But I have another street dog now, as loving and bratty as the first, and two others - pound puppies - in the gaps. I did go out on tours and leave him with family in the house, and as much as I loved those experiences, I begrudge every minute I missed with him. Life changes in a heartbeat, carpe diem!
This is what he looked like - and a great charm as well.
smidgen - as seen by a Victorian carver in coral
Smidgen the wonder pup, in Victorian Carved Coral Charm
Was there ever a time when the human race wasn’t superstitious? We’ve carried amulets of luck since we crawled out of the primordial ooze. Don’t get me started on theatre traditions; between not whistling (which started because early flymen were trained on ships and the calls were made by whistles, if you ‘gave a little whistle’ at the wrong time a bar would land on your head) to the Scots play, and the go outside turn 3 times and spit - well it just is amazing anyone remembers lines. All charmers know that when a friend is in need we jingle, and every faith in the world lights candles I think. The Victorians did lucky charms as well as they obsessed about every other tiny detail - we are left with gobos and touch wuds, hands, legs, horns, coral, hair jewelry and a limitless assortment of charms. This set is a prime example:
a set of victorian lucky charms on a ring with coral
The first time I saw one of these I was hooked because my great-grandmother’s maiden name was Darling, and it has been passed on down to me. Although this one is a ‘BABY’ version the ‘DARLING’ version is also prevalent. Now when I design a bracelet I frequently will add hearts with letters engraved, or just letter charms to bring the theme together. I was recently hired to do a gift to the Veterans Liaison for Education in Southern California from the Vets (I’ll show the bracelet - not vintage but 30 charms and loaded!) so I used the letters VETERANS as a background. I think it works very well. I’d love to find KYRIA but the chances of that are slim to none - I’d better just stick with DARLING.
click here for this “BABY’ charm bracelet
no longer in vogue 'baby' and 'darling barcelets from the late 18 to early 19 hundreds are charming
Well whoever wins it will be lucky, these are rare as hen’s teeth, especially in this condition. Does anyone know why the English version says ‘You Be My Lucky Star’ rather than ‘You are my Lucky Star’? I’ve always wondered. This German enamel is always so lovely… Click here to see this Victorian charm auction.
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Lovely guilloche vintage German charm with pearl
