For decades I’ve wondered, and, assuming the answer would be highly personal, have failed to ask: what’s the deal with the extra-long pinkie fingernail on people from the Orient (Middle East, India, Southeast Asia)? –Jim Mundy, Pawhuska, Oklahoma
In the old days in China, long fingernails were a sign you were rich and didn’t do manual labor. Now they grow out the pinkie as a sign of culture, breeding, and wealth. No doubt there’s some truth to this. A bit of browsing turns up photos of ornate fingernail protectors worn by ladies of the imperial Chinese court. Bizarre though such talons may seem to some, one could argue that as an indicator of culture, breeding, and wealth they beat having to buy a Jaguar and read Proust.
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
My friend has one and always hints it is for sexual purposes. I really hope they don’t involve earwax.
A Google search produced some interesting ones: that Picasso kept a long little fingernail for mixing paints, and that Turkish men commonly keep such a nail for opening cigarette wrappers.
Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): illustration/Slug Signorino.
