334 THE MAGIC OP JEWELS AND CHARMS
cover hidden treasures, was the so-called main-de-gloire, or "hand of glory," which was the desiccated hand of one who had met his death by hanging.28
A remarkable talismanic bracelet owned by Catherine de' Medici was set with a skull-fragment and with a representation of a "main-de-gloire." This
is described in the catalogue made in 1786 of M. d'Ennery's collection.
The settings of the bracelet, ten in number, comprised the following
objects, to each of which was probably ascribed some special
significance and virtue.29
An
oval "eagle-stone" (aetites), on which was graven in intaglio a winged
dragon; above this figure was the date 1559, the year in which the
bracelet was composed and that of the death of Catherine's husband,
Henri Π.
An octagonal agate, traversed by a number of tubular apertures, the orifices of which could be seen on either side of the stone.
A
very fine oval onyx of three colors, bearing graven on its edge the
following names of angels : Gabriel, Baphael, Michael, Uriel.
A large oval turquoise with a gold band.
A piece of black and white marble.
An
oval brown agate, with a caduceus, a star and a crescent engraved in
intaglio on one of its faces, and on its edge the name Jehovah and
certain talismanic characters ; on the other face were figured the
constellation Serpens, the zodiacal sign Scorpio and the Sun, around
which were the six planets.
An oblong section of a human skulL
A rounded piece of gold on the convex side of which was
" Pierre Lacroix, " Sciences et Lettres au Moyen Age," Paris, 1877, p. 250.
"Martin,
"Histoire de Prance," vol. x, Paris, 1844, p. 451, note. From a
communication of Pierre Lacroix, citing as authority : " Catalogue des
tableaux, antiquités, pierres gravées, etc., etc., du cabinet de feu M.
d'Ennery, écuyer," by Remi and Miliotti, Paris, 1786.
