Charivari (decorative chain) explained

Charivari (pronounced) is a piece of costume jewellery popular in the German state of Bavaria. Made of solid silver or silver-plated chain, it is decorated with gemstones, coins, medals, horn, and small body parts from a variety of animals.[1] [2]

Origin and use

The name charivari derives from the Latin caribaria meaning "mess" or "madness". It also means "pandemonium" or "commotion". This meaning has continued in both English and French.[3] [4]

Bavarian men wear the charivari on the belt of their lederhosen. The charivari traditionally served as jewellery or as a talisman for a successful hunt. It likely developed from a watch chain, from which were hung with hunting trophies.[5] It could not be bought, was carefully preserved and was passed down in a single family through the generations. Some old charivaris have values of up to 10,000 euros (about £8,770). The chain for women is usually finer, made of "Erbsketten" and decorated with talismen.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: German Hunting Amulets (Charivari) | R·Seitz: Talisman . Rseitz.com . 28 July 2014 . 28 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305035629/http://rseitz.com/talisman/german-hunting-amulets-charivari/ . 5 March 2016 . dead .
  2. Web site: A South German Luxurious Charivari, 19th/20th Century Heavy Silver Stock Photo, Picture And Royalty Free Image. Pic. 51538727 . Alamy.com . 21 April 2011 . 28 February 2016.
  3. Web site: charivari - Wiktionary . En.wiktionary.org . 25 January 2016 . 28 February 2016.
  4. Web site: charivari - definition of charivari in English from the Oxford dictionary . https://web.archive.org/web/20120706064733/http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/charivari . dead . July 6, 2012 . Oxforddictionaries.com . 28 February 2016.
  5. Web site: Our Tracht . Alpenlandtaenzer.com . 28 February 2016.