A Young Girl in Traditional Costume with Shawl and Choker 

Franz von Defregger painted this portrait of a young woman in traditional costume, its date currently unknown. The choker she wears is of particular interest. Such adornments have a long history. Necklaces and torques have been worn since antiquity, not merely as decoration, but as symbols of status, power, or protection. Notice how the choker sits close to the neck, a vulnerable point. The protective aspect relates to ancient beliefs, where jewelry acted as amulets warding off evil spirits. Consider the evolution of neckwear. From ancient torques to medieval gorgets, the impulse to protect or adorn the neck persists. The choker, thus, becomes a palimpsest of cultural memory, a subconscious echo of earlier forms. This seemingly simple piece of jewelry embodies a complex interplay of social, protective, and aesthetic motivations, revealing how symbols can carry profound emotional and historical weight.