The Three Parcae

Circa 1890. The Victorian period of jewelry design is at an end. A new style strides into the Parisian field of jewelry creativity. Art Nouveau has arrived...led by a group of innovators such as René, Lalique, George Fouquet, Lucien Gaillard, Lucien Gautrait, and others. For the first time since the Renaissance...jewelry pieces are being conceived as works of art.

Circa...the beginning of civilization. The Greek gods rule the earth. A child is born. He is in his cradle. His parents have tied up the dog. The front door is left open. Delicious morsels of food are placed upon the table. The Parcae (The Fates) are coming to visit--as they do with every newborn--in order to determine the child's destiny. They must be put in good humor. There are three of them. They are the Three Daughters of Night. They are Clotho ...Lachesis...and Atropos.

The female figure dominates this new Art Nouveau world. Jewels are now considered works of art...appreciated for their design and workmanship rather than for their inherent value. The designers of the era have achieved a level of perfection rarely matched...from then to today. The artists and creators of these jewels are the front-runners of a short race. After 30 years...Art Nouveau is gone...leaving behind a trail of splendor never again achieved. It is a period considered as the high point in jewelry design history.

The Parcae--also known as the Moerae--return to their weaving. They will give each newborn good and evil in varied proportions. For those of you who think you are the way you are because of pot-luck...forget it. It was the Fates what done you in. Clotho--the Spinner--spins away at the thread of your life. Lachesis--the Disposer of Lots--assigns to each person his or her destiny. Charles will be a doctor...Jim will be a thief. The Parcae will not be swayed in their decisions. And then there's Atropos--the dreaded carrier of The Shears. She will not be turned when she decides to cut the thread of life which Clotho has spun these many years. And as she cuts...so will that person's life end in death...and Clotho will begin a new thread...till once more it is time for the Shears.

Ye gads folks. This is no joke. Let's get a posse...a team...some renegades from Alcatraz if necessary--never mind that Alcatraz is no more--let us not be bothered by details. Let's get those men...and steal those Shears by golly. Once they're gone...we live forever.

Of the artists of the era...one produced A Gold Brooch/Pendant of the three Parcae spinning the thread of life. It is beautiful. It has French gold marks. It was worth...a little over twenty years ago...about 4000 Swiss Francs. And alas, the artist in unknown. But it's worth a look-see. It is representative of the Art Nouveau era.

For those of you who are new to this thing called Tidbits...may I direct you to my home page at www.tyler-adam.com where you will scroll down the left side menu till you get to the area that says Tidbits...and then click on the link that says: Parcae...where you will see a graphic of our Spinning Fates..

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