A curtain ring is a small clip for suspending a curtain. They hold up curtains of all types, including shower curtains.
The Romans used curtains hanging from poles with a few rings. Pliny's Natural History reports that the hard kernels of the cucus tree were turned to make the rings.[1]
Lewis and Clark took three gross of curtain rings with them on their famous expedition to the Pacific coast in 1804, expecting to give them as presents to the natives of the North American interior.[2]
In the 19th century, Mr. Rees designed a curtain ring which would not catch upon the curtain rail and so would go smoothly around curves and corners. The traditional number of curtain rings along the rod is 13, as recorded in Mr. Rees's journal.[3]
Such rings may be used as improvisations in other ways. For example, they may be used as a wedding ring to solemnise a marriage ceremony;[4][5] or as a ligature to prevent nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting).[6] Other uses include hanging a hammer from one's belt or attaching one's gloves or canteen to one's sleeping bag while camping when not using a backpack.[7] As seen, curtain rings have risen to popularity in the recent century. However, in the Victorian era, the curtain rings were symbols of wealth and a trend ensued where ladies would show off their curtain rings during teaparties.[8]
The 1987 film Planes, Trains and Automobiles has a character played by John Candy who is a curtain ring salesman.[9] His ability to sell the rings for their alternate uses (e.g., large earrings) is central to the plot of the film.
Curtains were hung on poles with a limited number of rings, creating a characteristic draped effect between them. Pliny mentioned the fruit of the cucus tree which had a hard kernel that was used to make curtain rings
A curtain-ring which catches and does not slide along easily is at least troublesome, and hence the ring of Mr. Rees, which we illustrate, may find some favour. It can be drawn round curves and angles as well as along a straight pole
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Curtain ring.
Attach your sneakers to your sleeping bag with a metal curtain ring; your gloves and canteen can dangle from a metal shower curtain ring or a ... Attach a sturdy metal shower curtain ring to your belt and slip your hammer through it. ...