Árbók Hins íslenzka fornleifafélags - 01.01.1984, Page 74

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ÁRBÓK FORNLEIFAFÉLAGSINS
each, which, together with many of the othcr ornaments, when the wearer is in mot-
ion, contribute no little to making a jingling noise, like horses with bells attached to
them.
Just beneath these ornaments the petticoat is fastencd by means of the Lyndi, or
girdle, which is ncarly five feet in length, and composed of a numbcr of oblong pieces
of silver, about an inch and a half long, and one inch widc, sewed with the extremities
closc together, upon a piece of green velvet, so that it forms a numbcr of joints, and
is easily bent round the body, and fastened with a bucklc; one end is suffcred to hang
down in front of the apron, and nearly reaches the bottom of it. All these joints are
gilt, and bcautifully ornamented with open work, and raised knobs of silver.
Thc jacket (Treja), which goes ovcr and conceals a part of the bodice, is rnade of
black velvet, [bls. 76] the searns and borders of the sleeves ornamented with fine gold
lace, with another stripe of the same down the breast, and gold embroidery near thc
opening in front, which, at the bottonr, is never fastened, but left wide, to exhibit the
ornaments of the bodice. The Kraga is a stiff and flat collar, an inch and a half wide,
complctely encircling the ncck, and fastened to the upper part of the jacket; this is also
embroidcrcd with gold, and sets off the pretty face of an Icelandic girl to great
advantage; from the opening in the slceve hang sphcrical ornaments, callcd Erma-
knappa, of silver gilt, instead of buttons.
The Halstrefill is merely a picce of white linen put round the neck, over which is
bound the Hals Sikener, or neck-handkerchief, of purple silk. Around this thc Hals
Festi, neckchain, three feet and a half long, of silver gilt, and of very curious work-
manship, is wound three times, by which means it covcrs about two inches in depth
of the blue silk, and has a very good effect upon it; on onc end of it is fastcned a large
bracelet (Nisti) curiously ornamented, and hung round with the initials of thc owner:
this also is of silver gilt.
The stocking (Socka) of an Icelandic lady are gencrally of dark bluc worsted; the
shoes (Slior) are made of the skin of scals or sheep: an oblong piece is slit down two
or three inches before and behind, and sewed up somcwhat in the fornr of the foot,
which it soon takes the shape of by stretching, and is [bls. 77] drawn tight by a leather
thong running along the edge, and ticd over the foot. These are so easily made, that
I paid only six shillings for a dozen pair.
This dress is applicablc only to unmarricd ladies of rank. To the wedding-dress two
rich ornaments are added: one is the Kojfur, or fillet, worn round the head-dress; it
is made in the samc rnanner, and of the same matcrials, as the girdle, but more ele-
gantly wrought, and the joints are fastencd upon gold lace. In the front arc the initials
of thc wcarer embossed, surmounted by a crown set with precious stones.
The othcr ornament is the Herdafesti, shoulder-chain, made entirely of silver gilt, of
considerable wcight, and of most cxquisitc workmanship. This connects seven circul-
ar pieces of silver, each as large as a five-shilling piece, and ornanlented with silver
wire, twisted, and disposed in various figures. Thc chain is a double onc, going over
cach shoulder, and is terminatcd behind by a large silvcr medal, gilt, two inches and
three quarters in diamctcr, and representing in relief, on one side, thc crucifixion of our
Saviour between the two thieves, with a number of extrcmely well defined figures
below. The superscription is PECCATA. NOSTRA. IPSE. PERTVLIT. IN.
CORPORE. SVO. SVPER. LIGNVM. VT. PECCATIS. MORTUI. IVSTICIE.
VIVAM. The reverse rcpresents Abraham about to offcr up his son Isaac, and the
angel of thc Lord staying the hand already lifted to [bls. 78] slay his son: the super-
scription, PATER. MI. ECCE. IGNIS. ET. LIGNA. VBI. EST. VICTIMA. N.
DIXIT. ABRAHAM. DOMINVS. PROVIDEBIT. FILI. MI. I have followed, liter-
ally, thc spelling of thc words: the letters, as well as the whole medal, arc in excellent