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Victorian Carved Jet Beads Necklace with Jet Clasp

584F
Written by Olly Gerrish

In the Victorian era in Whitby on the Yorkshire coast was where the finest quality jet was sourced. Whitby Jet is actually fossilised wood which has been compressed over millions of years. It is found in seams of shale between Robin Hood’s Bay and Boulby, Yorkshire. The seams extend under the sea and pieces often break away in bad weather to be washed up on to the shore.
In 1851, Whitby Jet was exhibited at the Great Exhibition, London . It was a great hit and was purchased by some Royals including the Queen of Bavaria and the Empress of France. But Whitby Jet’s most famous patron was Queen Victoria. When her husband  Prince Albert died in 1861, Victoria took to wearing Jet jewellery in remembrance of him, and it soon became the etiquette to wear mourning jewellery made from jet. So much so, that the only jewellery allowed to be worn in court during the period was Whitby Jet. This is a carved jet bead necklace from that period, circa 1860-880.  Each bead has been hand carved in an intricate design. It must have taken hours to complete and looks amazing.

Item Number
584F
Measurements
Length 64 cm
Diameter of largest bead 1.5 cm
Materials
Jet
Date & Origin
Provenance
English
Condition
Very Good
Discovered
7 years ago
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