The Private and Public Life of Nellie Stewart's Bangle
Author(s)
Boyd, Annita
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2014
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This paper charts the relationship between Nellie Stewart, one of Australia's first stage celebrities of light opera and the origin of a style of gold bangle that became ubiquitous in Australian feminine jewellery adornment, as an outward sign of romantic attachment, reaching a level of mass production and consumption by the early twentieth century. The aim of this paper is to bring to light, through archival research, the forgotten origin and connection of this bangle with the once iconic popular culture figure of Stewart. In retracing a reconnection with this forgotten origin in popular Australian memory, this paper explores ...
View more >This paper charts the relationship between Nellie Stewart, one of Australia's first stage celebrities of light opera and the origin of a style of gold bangle that became ubiquitous in Australian feminine jewellery adornment, as an outward sign of romantic attachment, reaching a level of mass production and consumption by the early twentieth century. The aim of this paper is to bring to light, through archival research, the forgotten origin and connection of this bangle with the once iconic popular culture figure of Stewart. In retracing a reconnection with this forgotten origin in popular Australian memory, this paper explores celebrity status in late nineteenth century. It is arguable that once this style of bangle became more commonplace in its production and consumption, the connection with Nellie Stewart became more diluted and tenuous within living, popular memory. Another, more important layer of discussion concerns the history of the bangle, notably as ceremonial wedding gift, and a sad irony revealed about the public and private nature of this bangle as a gift of binding love.
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View more >This paper charts the relationship between Nellie Stewart, one of Australia's first stage celebrities of light opera and the origin of a style of gold bangle that became ubiquitous in Australian feminine jewellery adornment, as an outward sign of romantic attachment, reaching a level of mass production and consumption by the early twentieth century. The aim of this paper is to bring to light, through archival research, the forgotten origin and connection of this bangle with the once iconic popular culture figure of Stewart. In retracing a reconnection with this forgotten origin in popular Australian memory, this paper explores celebrity status in late nineteenth century. It is arguable that once this style of bangle became more commonplace in its production and consumption, the connection with Nellie Stewart became more diluted and tenuous within living, popular memory. Another, more important layer of discussion concerns the history of the bangle, notably as ceremonial wedding gift, and a sad irony revealed about the public and private nature of this bangle as a gift of binding love.
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Journal Title
Journal of Popular Romance Studies
Volume
4
Issue
2
Publisher URI
Subject
Culture, Gender, Sexuality
Performing Arts and Creative Writing
Communication and Media Studies
Cultural Studies