20th century maximalism… while minimalism was more-or-less the prevailing current throughout the artistic and aesthetic landscapes of the 20th century (certainly post WW2), there are always exceptions, and this - certainly - is one of them. A vintage silver charm bracelet fully loaded with 30 individual charms. They cover various subjects/themes, including Scotland, the Old West, cuckoo clocks, dancers, animals, historic buildings, a 21 key to the door, heart padlock clasp and more. It dates from the 1940s-60s, and the owner probably had to start a second if they kept adding to the collection. 

Charms have always been a unique way to express individuality, often passed down the generations to be enjoyed and added to by descendants. Wearing charms is thought to have begun in order to ward off bad luck / evil spirits - part of human culture since pre-historic times when charms were made from shells, animal bones, clay, rocks and wood. There's evidence of shells being worn on the body from as far back as 75,000 years, and in ancient Egypt charms were worn as symbols of faith and luck, as well as for identification of social standing. The first known charm bracelets were worn by the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and Hittites as early as 600 BC.