The Mikado bracelet
This colorful beauty lifts my spirits on grey, wintry days but is a joy to wear on sunny, spring-like days, too! The charms are delightful, tell the story and the colors are invigorating.
Telling the story of the Mikado with beads and charms.
The spiral chart demonstrates how beads and charms tell the story of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado.
The dagger/sword represents Ko-Ko's position as Executioner; a Japanese woman symbolizes Yum-Yum.
Charms include: Yum-Yum's fan, marriage certificate, wedding ring and a music note (Nanki-Poo as minstrel).
Cloisonne beads evoke ornate Japanese silk patterns on the Mikado Opera Bracelet.
A large gold crystal symbolizes the Mikado, Emperor of Japan. A large round bead with a sunburst represents the joy of the towns people at the end of the operetta.
A red heart and tiny bird bead evoke Ko-Ko's love song to Katisha
Beloved since its opening in 1885, Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado is a wild tale of mixed up marriages and laws that defy reason. It's one of those operettas that point out the ridiculous by being ridiculous.
Nanki-Poo wants to marry Yum-Yum. This is only slightly complicated by the fact that he is heir to the Emperor of Japan (The Mikado) in disguise and she is betrothed to her ward Ko-Ko, who has his own problems having escaped a death sentence and taken the position of Lord High Executioner. He doesn’t know how to execute anyone though and the Mikado had demanded the town execute someone within the month. A secret wedding and a fake execution seem to solve the problem UNTIL Nanki-Poo's identity is revealed... Confused yet?
Each bead and charm of The Mikado Opera Bracelet represents a character or moment from the operetta. 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.
- Gold Crystals represent Nanki-Poo and his father the Mikado
- Yum-Yum the bride is an elegant glass flower while her companions Peep-Bo and Pitti-Sing are delicate glass pearls.
- Fire Polish beads represent Lord High Executioner Ko-Ko (Blue), Pish-Tush, a noble lord of the town (Green) and Pooh-Bah, “Lord High Everything else” (Purple).
- A silver bead symbolizes elderly Katisha who also plans to marry Nanki-Poo
- The concept of execution which looms over the opera is indicated by tiny barrel beads embossed with X's
- Ornate Cloisonné beads evoke intricate Japanese silks: A large blue and pink heart is the love of Yum-Yum and Nanki-Poo as they plan to marry.
- A red heart is Ko-Ko’s love song to Katisha.
- A large round blue and gold sunburst disc symbolizes the joy of the town as the operetta concludes.
Charms included on the bracelet are:
- A music note (Nanki-Poo as traveling minstrel)
- A wedding ring (Ko-Ko’s marriage plans)
- Yum-Yum’s fan
- A dagger/sword (the command for an execution)
- A Japanese woman (Yum-Yum preparing for her wedding)
- A marriage license (the secret wedding).
Mikado Bracelet
My daughter in law was in this in college, as well as a few other performances represented by your opera bracelets. I have bought them all and will be giving them to her in the near future. This is a lovely telling of the opera, I know she will love it! Thanks again for your fine workmanship and lovely, unique pieces!
Lovely quirky item for opera lovers everywhere
This is a beautiful bracelet and is a gift for my daughter who is playing Katisha in The Mikado, in Edinburgh 2016. The service is excellent and I was delighted with the speedy despatch. Thank you. I will be buying from you again.
LOVE THIS COMPANY
I love this company and cannot say enough about how Cindy bends over backward to help. The product is beautiful and you can see the time and special love that she puts in to each one of these bracelets. The Mikado bracelet was our third one and hope to get many more. Thank you Cindy and feel so blessed that I found your company. My daughter is so thrilled with every gift bracelet I get for her. And cant wait for the next.
