BRACELET (bras'16t), (Heb. els-au/ (1) This name, in strict propriety, is as appli cable to circlets worn on the upper part of the arm as to those worn on the wrist, but as it has been found convenient to distinguish the former as Armlets, the term bracelet must be restricted to the latter. These are, and always have been, much in use among Eastern females. Many of them are of the same shapes and patterns as the armlets, and are often of such considerable weight and bulk as to appear more like manacles than ornaments. Many are often worn one above an other on the same arm, so as to occupy the greater part of the space between the wrist and the elbow.
(2) The materials vary according to the con dition of the wearer, but it seems to be the rule that bracelets of the meanest materials are better than none. Among the higher classes they are of mother-of-pearl. of fine flexible gold, and of
silver, the last being the most common. The poorer women use plated steel, horn, brass, cop per, beads and other materials of a cheap descrip tion.
(3) Some notion of the size and value of the bracelets used both now and in ancient times may be formed from the fact that those winch were presented by Eliezer to Rebecca weighed ten shekels (Gen, xxiv:22). The bracelets arc some times flat, but more frequently round or semi circular, except at the point where they open to admit the hand. where they arc flattened. They are frequently hollow, giving the show of bulk (which is much desired ) without the inconve nience. Bracelets of gold twisted rope-wise are those now most used in Asia, but we cannot determine to what extent this fashion may have existed in ancient times.