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Folk Luck & Everyday Charms · c. 1700 – today

Charm bracelets & chatelaines

Meaning

A charm bracelet or chatelaine is a chain hung with miniature charms: hearts, keys, lockets, horseshoes, anchors, zodiac signs and souvenirs. Each charm marks a memory, a wish or a protection.

Intent

It was built up over a lifetime as a personal record of milestones, travels and loves, and worn for luck and remembrance. Wartime charms were sent to loved ones.

Significance

Charm bracelets are the domestic, sentimental descendants of the amulet chain. Queen Victoria made them fashionable, and they boomed again after the Second World War and with modern brands.

History

Charms on chains are ancient (Egyptian and Roman), but the modern charm bracelet dates from Queen Victoria in the mid-19th century and peaked in the 1950s–60s.

Making yours
Link bracelet with jump-rings and 5–20 charms, cast, stamped or enamelled.
Folk Luck & Everyday Charms: the tradition

Modern Europe and America kept a rich tradition of everyday luck charms long after learned magic faded: horseshoes over doors, rabbit's feet, four-leaf clovers, lucky pigs at New Year, charm bracelets. In London, the collector Edward Lovett (1852–1933) bought amulets from working people, costers and sailors, proving that protective magic was alive in the modern city, and his collection is now in the Wellcome Collection, the Pitt Rivers Museum and the Cuming Museum. Archaeologists keep finding concealed objects in old houses: shoes, witch bottles, dried cats and ritual marks at doors, windows and chimneys.

See all 49, save the ones that feel rightAsk about having one made
Gold chain to which are attached ten assorted charms, Europe and United States, 19th centuryGold chain to which are attached ten assorted charms, Europe and United States, 19th centuryEurope · 1800-1900Girl's nickel plated metal charm bracelet made in the UK about 1981Girl's nickel plated metal charm bracelet made in the UK about 1981United Kingdom · ca. 1981ChatelaineChatelaineBerlocker, elva styckenBerlocker, elva styckenearly 19 th century date QS:P571,+1850-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Gold charm bracelet from which hang the tops of ten gem-set stick pins, Europe, 19th century, assembled UnitedGold charm bracelet from which hang the tops of ten gem-set stick pins, Europe, 19th century, assembled UnitedEurope · 1800-1900The Mercy SeatThe Mercy SeatUnited Kingdom · 2022-2024BerlockBerlockmid 18 th century date QS:P571,+1750-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Bracelet charm in the shape of a wedding chapel with a bride and groom inside, 'God's House', The Vampire's WiBracelet charm in the shape of a wedding chapel with a bride and groom inside, 'God's House', The Vampire's WiUnited Kingdom · 2022-2024Bedelarmband met gourmetschakels van zilver, BK-2010-2-372Bedelarmband met gourmetschakels van zilver, BK-2010-2-372ca. 1950 - ca. 1960The Red Right HandThe Red Right HandUnited Kingdom · 2022-2024Yoon Bora at The 70th Independence Day of Republic of KoreaYoon Bora at The 70th Independence Day of Republic of KoreaBerlock, 3 st.Berlock, 3 st.first half of 19 th century date QS:P571,+1850-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Berlocker, sex styckenBerlocker, sex styckenfirst half of 19 th century date QS:P571,+1850-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Berlocker, åtta styckenBerlocker, åtta styckenearly 19 th century date QS:P571,+1850-00-00T00:00:00Z/7BerlockerBerlockermid 19 th century date QS:P571,+1850-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Berlocker, tre styckenBerlocker, tre styckensecond half of 19 th century date QS:P571,+1850-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Berlocker, två styckenBerlocker, två styckenearly 19 th century date QS:P571,+1850-00-00T00:00:00Z/7BerlockBerlockChrome Hearts braceletChrome Hearts braceletComposable-BraceletComposable-BraceletJuicy Couture charm bracelet close upJuicy Couture charm bracelet close upPandoraBraceletPandoraBraceletTridatuTridatuCharm Bracelet made by SF Bay Area Silver Clay GroupCharm Bracelet made by SF Bay Area Silver Clay GroupCoin-chain-char-braceletCoin-chain-char-braceletGold elephant hair braceletGold elephant hair braceletKwon Yu-ri at SBS Gayo Daejeon 2013Kwon Yu-ri at SBS Gayo Daejeon 2013Silver elephant hair braceletSilver elephant hair braceletCharm BraceletCharm BraceletCharm bracelet padlock sculpture, bottom of Newhall Hill - geograph.org.ukCharm bracelet padlock sculpture, bottom of Newhall Hill - geograph.org.ukDouble plus charm bracelet (15085547490)Double plus charm bracelet (15085547490)BettelarmbandBettelarmbandBreast milk charm beadsBreast milk charm beadsHandmade jewelry by arpHandmade jewelry by arpSL Amicizia 01 HRSL Amicizia 01 HRWas ophangen - Hanging out the laundry (4397796031)Was ophangen - Hanging out the laundry (4397796031)A charm bracelet (15697650172)A charm bracelet (15697650172)Charm Bracelet Trail, BirminghamCharm Bracelet Trail, BirminghamThe Charm Bracelet - geograph.org.ukThe Charm Bracelet - geograph.org.ukBenang tridatuBenang tridatuGenuine elephant hair braceletGenuine elephant hair braceletGold charm braceletGold charm braceletAW08 Multi Locket Charms Braclet with Velvet and Diamante FlowerAW08 Multi Locket Charms Braclet with Velvet and Diamante FlowerBezoek Koninklijk Paar aan Luxemburg Ambassade, Bestanddeelnr 904-6355Bezoek Koninklijk Paar aan Luxemburg Ambassade, Bestanddeelnr 904-6355Vintage jewellery uk silver charm braceletVintage jewellery uk silver charm braceletPangolin scale worn as a charm bracelet - oo 246940 (cropped toPangolin scale worn as a charm bracelet - oo 246940 (cropped toВинтажный чарм-браслетВинтажный чарм-браслетЧарм-браслетЧарм-браслетCharm Bracelet Pavement PlaqueCharm Bracelet Pavement Plaque

More from Folk Luck & Everyday Charms: British folk amulets (Lovett collection) · Lucky charms (horseshoe, clover, pig, sweep)
Every type in the gallery

Anything in the gallery can be made, by hand, in the prescribed metal or yours and, where the tradition names an hour, at that hour or with a plain note that it was not. Numbered. Price on commission, quoted first. I reply within one business day.