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Directory: Antiques: Decorative Art: Jewelry: Pre 1900: Item # 1457077

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Moylan-Smelkinson/The Spare Room
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P.O. Box 4684
Baltimore, Maryland 21212
tel. 410-435-3738

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Lovely carved bracelet of polished jet. Jet was a form of fossilized coal that was discovered in the town of Whitby, England in the late 18th century. This gave rise to a cottage industry that employed many in the town of Whitney in the 19th century, as jet formed the material for lightweight striking black jewelry forms which were perfect i to meet the unending demand for mourning jewelry during the Victorian era (owing to Queen Victoria's long extended period of mourning for hur late husband Albert). Men and women both were active in the production of Jet jewelry. Men did the carving on the lathe while women assembled and polished the pieces. Our bracelet is elasticized, a common form during this period, and is easy to slip on and off the wrist. It is also extremely lightweight, a distinctive feature of jet jewelry. The elastic construction allows the bracelet to snugly fit any average to large wrist. Each link has distinctive apron type carving on each end. The head of the bracelet, a full 2 inches in length, has an attractive carved silver S-shaped flourish and a larger round turquoise stone in the center. This simple look of this bracelet belies a great deal of handwork, from the carving to the polished finish. The carved silver ornament and turquoise stones create the perfect accent pieces to this jet black bracelet of Jet stone. The bracelet measures 7. 5 inches along the outside, 6.5 inches on the inside and approximately 2 mm in depth.