The Burden of the Bride

Right now I am reading a book (c. 1948) on the decorative arts of Sweden that I picked up at The Book Cellar for a dollar. Of particular interest is the effect of weather and climate on the spread and adoption of new motifs (e.g. some medieval woodworking patterns were still being employed as late as the 17th-century by peasants in colder provinces, who, by necessity, didn't get out much).

The best passage that I've read by far is from "Chapter IV: Metal," which made me laugh out loud when I first read it:

Because the peasants were too conservative to discard any old forms of ornaments but simply added the more recent creations to the old, the number of ornaments worn by an 18th-century bride was appalling. Besides the la headband [usually made of cloth, embroidered and then adorned with metal trinkets and bangle-type things; worn by unmarried women, dates from prehistoric times] and her heavy crown she wore the large neck ornament, tied around her throat with a ribbon. In addition to this she usually wore two hanging neck ornaments, the long chain going around her neck many times. One was the gift of the groom, the other a gift from her parents. The hanging ornaments were fastened to either side of her bodice, so that the chains formed a draped pattern over the breast. Her bodice was tightly laced with a chain run through twelve silver lacing-rings, with the chain's needle tucked in her bodice along with two spoons. (The spoons would be used at the wedding feast, one for her and one for the groom). Undergarments beneath the bodice were held fast with silver clasps. Her kerchief was fastened with a larger, heart-shaped clasp. Her ring might be worn on her finger, or on one of the neck chains, or tied into one corner of her kerchief, depending on the custom of the province in which she lived. Large silver buttons hung at her elbows and from the shoulders. The wide red belt with many silver mountings which completed her adornment was next in importance to the crown on her head.

Many legends tell of brides collapsing beneath this burdening wealth of ornaments.

No kidding.

Comments

[Janet Jeffery]

The custom sounds a bit dangerous, but interesting. What is the name of the book?

[Editor]

It's called "The Decorative Arts of Sweden," by Iona Plath, copyright 1948 and 1966 by Dover Publications, Inc. I picked it up in a secondhand shop, and I'm sure there is a more recent edition. It's a great book, and I highly recommend it for its cultural perspective and thorough explanations in chapters entitled "Metal," "Glass," "Ceramics," etc.