Jessie Bain’s bangle

George Bain made this wooden hand-painted bangle for his beloved wife Jessie. It is made in two parts and each is painted with a different design. A hinge and clasp join the two together so that the bangle is easy to put on and off.

One half is decorated with a series of triple spirals (known as triskeles) in sherbet shades of pale blue, yellow and orange. The shapes roll like waves from clasp to hinge. The other half is painted in deeper colours. Two mirror-image interlaced knotwork designs meet in a red and white central knot. Accents of orange on both halves of the bangle link the designs together.