WOMAN'S ADORNMENT

Ladies' Mirror, Volume I, Issue 9, 1 March 1923, Page 54

WOMAN'S ADORNMENT

Are Opals Unlucky ? ■ is no more beautiful gem A than the rainbow-hued opal, and undoubtedly it would be worn very much more than it is if it were not saddled with a reputation for bringing misfortune on its wearer. The prevalence of this superstition is very curious, for it can be traced back to nothing more unlucky than Sir Walter Scott’s famous novel, “Anne of Geierstein.” This book introduced an opal that brought sorrow on all its possessors, and, so widely was it read a century ago, when Sir Walter was at the zenith of his popularity, that the gem began to be credited with the evil power he gave it in the story. But there is no reason why we moderns should be influenced by an almost forgotten piece of fiction, which most of us have not even read. In real life opals are no more unlucky than any other stone, and plenty of people who possess them can point to happy lives. The opal is the symbol of hope, and is said to sharpen the sight and strengthen the faith of its wearers. It is considered particularly the stone of the October born.

From the Cairo Bazaars T'HE newest jewellery, which is A slowly making its way to the front, comes from the bazaars and hidden places of Cairo. So far necklaces and single ornaments for suspension on moire ribbons and fine chains and slave bangles are the only forms which this novelty jewellery has taken, but undoubtedly brooches, earrings, hatpins, and the hundred and one oddments which women love will soon make their appearance. Real amber, black coral, carved ivory, and the mouthpieces of ancient hubble-bubble pipes are but a few of the materials used for these charming trinkets. Each amber bead collected in Cairo was at one time part of an old Mohammedan chaplet, its richness of colour, smoothness, and shining finish being due to the constant touch of the hand of the native at prayer. Not only are these beads to be seen in the various shades of rich golden brown with which we always associate the word amber, but also in a number of charming shades of green. Some arc a bright jade, while some are a soft shade that is almost reseda in tone. Each necklace is threaded on a fine silken cord specially woven in Egypt. At intervals on the cord, among the amber beads, are threaded small globular pieces of black coral which come from Hedjaz, near the Red Sea. It is with the golden amber and black coral necklace that the hubble-bubble mouthpieces are used. Suspended on tiny bead-trimmed strands of gold or silver cord they form delightful globe-like ornaments, and, being made of amber, are of the exact shade of the beads themselves. Carved necklaces are stained in black, yellow, pink, green, or are left in their natural whiteness. Each bead bears an inscription in monogrammatic Arabic.