BRACELET (Fr.. armlet, from bras, hand. Lat. braerhium, arm. Eng. brace). An ornament worn on the arm. generally at the wrist. Brace lets and armlets have been used by every nation, both savage and civilized. from the earliest pe riods to our own. They are frequently mentioned in Genesis, as worn both by men (xxxviii. IS) and by women (xxiv. 30) ; by both the Hebrews and the surrounding nations (Num. taxi. 50). Similar ornaments were worn round the ankles. but they are stigmatized by Isaiah as marks of luxury (iii. 16). The Medes and Persians were remarkable, even among Asiatics. for their love for ornaments of this class. They wore not only bracelets and armlets, but earrings, collars, and necklaces, which often. consisted of strings of valuable pearls, or were enriched with other jewels. These ornaments were used to indicate the rank of the wearer. and this use has con tinued to be made of them in the East down to the present day. In Europe, bracelets and arm let.. were worn by both the classical nations and the barbarians from the earliest times. The (taut:
wore them ; and the Sabine:, in the legend of Tarpeia„ had ponderous golden armlets on the left arm. Armlets have been found at Troy, INly•ente, and in the early Italian 'graves. They were worn on both the lower and upper arm, and are frequently found in pairs. In historical times it was a mark of effeminacy for men to wear but they arc very frequently seen on women in works of art, and very many have been found in tombs. Some of these are ex ceedingly beautiful specimens of the goldsmith's work. The favorite form seems to have been a spiral passing several times around the arm, and frequently made to resemble a serpent. We also find simple rings, often open, with the ends in the form of animals' heads, sphinxes, etc. Al most all modern forms can he found among the Greek and Etruscan jewelry. These armlets were frequently arranged to Contain amulets. Among the Romans. silver armlets (armill•) were given to soldiers or centurions as a mark of distinction.