Bangle Arms

Celebrating the Roaring Twenties in a Special Series

I wonder if Nancy Cunard had really long, really skinny arms? Otherwise how on earth did she fit on so many bangles at a time? I love that look as seen in the 1920s portrait of her by Cecil Beaton (click here for my homage to the pair) – it is somewhat tribal; decorative without being frou-frou. I’m reminded as a child I had a fascination with those African tribal women who wore metal to rings around the neck ... except that bangles require no long-term commitment. 

I’ve wondered if some of Nancy’s bangles are really curtain rings or something, or if costume jewellers actually created extra large bangles that could be slid up the forearm? I can’t understand why they don’t do that now. My collection comes from all over: bone from India, wood and stone Vietnam, stone from Spain and vintage galalith (a type of plastic similar to Bakelite) from America. The only thing is, I don’t actually wear more than one at a time because I find them annoying. Hmm.