Pirates Gold The gold earrings pirates wore served different purposes. The gold hoops ensured that if their body washed ashore there would be enough money for a funeral. Whoever found the body could use the gold jewellery as payment for burial. Some pirates even had the name of their home port engraved on their earring so they could be returned to their families. The earrings also served as hearing protection when firing canons. Pirates would dangle small pieces of wax from their earrings for quick insertion into the ear should firing begin. OG ear plugs alert. There are superstitious about certain items of jewellery bringing certain kinds of luck. Sailors are known for being extra superstitious. Some pirates believed that earrings would protect them against drowning and ensure that they got back to safety. During the height of piracy in the 17th and 18th centuries much of Europe, and especially England, had a number of sumptuary laws in place that regulated what common people could wear and how they could live. These stifling laws prescribed what colours people could wear, what genders could sport jewellery (men were not allowed to) and where one could flaunt the “approved” items they could afford. Those who refused to obey these laws could face jail time or heavy monetary fines. Unsurprisingly, this culture of control didn’t really gel with freewheeling pirates. The flamboyant dress that came to be associated with historic pirates was a direct response to these sumptuary laws. #neonurchin #neonurchinblog #dedicatedtothethingswelove #suzyurchin #ollyurchin #art #music #photography #fashion #film #design #words #pictures #love #pirates #superstition #goldearrings #hoopearrings #burial #crossingtheequator #plundering #talisman #seasickness #improvedeyesight #sumptuarylaws #symbols #pirates #gold https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj-LrhkoJg2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
