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Victorian Hand Carved Round Jet Beads Necklace

873P
Rare Find
Written by Olly Gerrish

A good strand of hand carved graduated jet beads that were made circa 1860-1880. In the Victorian era the finest quality jet was sourced in Whitby on the Yorkshire coast. Whitby Jet is actually fossilised wood that has been compressed over millions of years and is found in seams of shale between Robin Hood’s Bay and Boulby. In 1851, Whitby Jet was exhibited at the Great Exhibition in London and soon became coveted by a number of high profile Royals including the Queen of Bavaria and the Empress of France. But Whitby Jet’s most prolific patron was Queen Victoria. When her beloved Albert died in 1861, Victoria took to wearing Jet jewellery in remembrance of him, and it soon became the etiquette to accessorise the period’s mourning fashion with jewellery made from jet. So much so, that the only jewellery allowed to be worn in court during the period was Whitby Jet.
This necklace with its original black enamelled dog clip clasp would have been worn at the time.

Ollys Pick

This jet necklace is in great condition!

Item Number
873P
Measurements
Length 52cm
Width of largest bead 2cm
Materials
Jet
Date & Origin
Provenance
English
Condition
Excellent
Discovered
4 years ago
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