Beauty and the Beast

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Versions of the Beauty and the Beast story have existed for thousands of years (source - Wikipedia). It has inspired books, plays and operas too! My version is based on the popular French children's stories from the 18th century written by Villeneuve and Beaumont.

Each bead and charm of the Beauty and the Beast Bracelet represents a character or moment from the story. Some of the most important beads and charms are described below and you can see all of the symbolic descriptions on the spiral chart photo above or to the left.  Also, a story chart explaining the symbolism of the beads and charms accompanies every bracelet. Click here to see the chart.

NOTE: My bracelets have small delicate parts and are not intended for children.

• Belle, who inevitably sees beyond the Beast’s appearance to his heart, is represented by a pink cat’s eye bead. I often use cat’s eye to represent someone with a unique ability to see or foresee beyond the obvious. 
• A purple bead is Belle’s father, the merchant. A ship charm indicates the initial event of the story: the return of his lost ship.
• I chose golden crystals to symbolize the luxurious gifts the rest of the merchant’s children demand of him. They assume the return of the ship means they have become rich. Belle asks only for a rose indicated by a glass bead with a floating rosebud in it.
• The merchant’s goods must be sold to cover his debts. He is destitute (blue teardrop bead). Returning home he is caught in a terrible storm (grey twisted satin bead). He sees the bright lights of a castle (pale gold crystals and candelabra charm). 
• The castle appears deserted, yet dinner and warmth are provided for him. He falls asleep and wakes to a breakfast of hot chocolate (teapot and cup charm). 
• As he departs, he sees roses growing and picks one to bring to Belle (rose bead reprisal). The furious Beast (a faceted brown bead and roaring bear face charm) appears and accuses him of stealing it. 
• The beast makes a bargain with the Merchant (Black double cone bead), he will spare his life if one of his daughters will come to the castle.
• Belle agrees to go to the castle. Deep green beads indicate her journey through the forest; a castle charm is her destination. 
• At the castle Belle is surrounded by luxuries (golden beads reprisal) such as the speaking clock (clock charm). The Beast asks her nightly to marry him (red heart); Belle refuses, gently (black disc).
• Belle is distressed (blue teardrop) to see her sick father in a magic mirror (faceted silver bead). 
• The Beast allows her to visit her family for 7 days (Belle in finery charm), by using a magic ring (gold floating ring) 
• Her jealous sisters detain her for 10 days (10 pearls). She returns after she dreams the Beast is dying (ring).
• Returning, she finds the Beast about to expire- grief stricken (blue teardrop) she begs him to live and be her husband (red heart crystal).
• The beast is transformed into a Prince! I used the same kind of faceted bead that represents the Beast, only a sparkling golden color now to show his transformation. 
• A fairy arrives to explain (crystal bi-cone bead and fairy charm) the curse (black bead).
• Belle and the Prince are wed - a clear iridescent bead …and they lived happily ever after!