Amulet Against Drunkenness (Brooch)

This delightful brooch shows a man who is falling down drunk – but who still manages to hold his cup upright. The original, dated 1275-1325 by the Stedelijke Musea Ieper (where it is held), had three glass stones cast in. We don’t know what color that glass is – or was. But medieval lapidaries reported that amethyst protected the wearer from intoxication. (The name of the stone comes from Greek: a-methystos means “not intoxicated.”) So naturally we have supplied our copy with amethyst-colored glass stones. Wear it in good health!