The Story of the Mermaid Beach Bracelet
The Whale Tail- represents the whaling industry from the 19th century. New Bedford and Nantucket were both considered the whaling capitals of the world in the mid 1800’s. New Bedford had 722 whaling ships.
The Adirondack Chair - was first created by Thomas Lee of Westport, N.Y., while on summer vacation. He desired a comfortable outdoor chair for his summer home. He then offered his creation to his friend, Harry Bunnell. Bunnell quickly realized this would be a profitable item to sell to the residents of Westport. He filed for a patent and received it in 1905 and manufactured the chairs for the next 20 years. The original Westport Adirondack Chair was made of hemlock and was green or brown. The Adirondack chair that sold for $4.00 would sell today for over $1200.
The Sand Dollar is the skeleton or test of a marine animal. They live in the sand and burrow or crawl slowly through the sand. The sand dollar appears similar to a large coin. Also, known as the mermaid’s money. There is a well-known poem called Legend of the Sand Dollar.
The Mermaid legend and folklore began to evolve as far back as the first century A.D. The mermaid “is a beast of the sea wonderfully shapen as a maid from the navel upward and a fish from the navel downward, and this beast is glad and merry in tempest, and sad and heavy in fair weather.”
Many captains and mariners of the sea, including Columbus, have reported observing mermaids. On January 4, 1493, he reported that he observed female forms rise high out of the sea, but were not as beautiful as represented. They were known to lure sailors with their music. Mermaids have long been an interest of beauty and fascination.
Scallop Shell- is used as decoration for its beauty. Scallops live on the ocean floor and can swim rapidly by opening and closing its shell. Scallops are a popular food in Eastern and Western cooking. Scallop shells are found abundantly on New England beaches.
Horseshoe Crab-found on our beaches, dates back to prehistoric times. It is estimated to be 300 million years old. The horseshoe crab was crawling the coastal seas 100 million years before the dinosaurs. It also plays a vital role in injectable medication. An extract of the horseshoe crab’s blood is used to ensure intravenous drugs, vaccines, and medical devices are free from bacterial contamination.
Lighthouse- Boston Light erected in 1716 was the first lighthouse built in the country.
Brant Point Light of Nantucket is the second oldest. Highland Light of Truro is the third oldest, built in 1797. Lighthouses are a large part of New England history.
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Call Karen Francis at 508-737-8664 to order or with any questions.
Mermaid sand sculpture in Provincetown, 2003. Karen Francis photo.
