The Sorrowful Mysteries

Victorian Jet Brooch With Shell Cameo of the Virgin and Child, England c. 1860

€ 690.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Victorian Jet Brooch With Shell Cameo of the Virgin and Child, England c. 1860

Description

This description was automatically translated from German. If you have any questions about this piece of jewellery, we will be happy to help!

Victorian England was infatuated with jewellery with cameos. In contrast to earlier eras, when cameos were kept in locked cabinets and only delighted the collector, they were now intended to be worn and admired by all as transportable works of art. Gems with mythological motifs were particularly prized, especially those made in the Bay of Naples. English travelers who visited Italy as part of the Grand Tour were the first to bring these exquisitely carved cameos back home as souvenirs; later, the carved cameos were imported directly by British traders and set into jewellery locally. This brooch from around 1860 is one such piece. Cut from two-tone shell, the oval cameo presents a serene scene showing Mary sitting on a grassy bench with the Christ Child. It is possible that this religious motif was chosen because it is a mourning ornament. A frame of deep black and carved whitby-jett surrounds the cameo. In England during the Victorian era, mourning times were strictly regulated, as were the associated rules for mourning attire and mourning jewelry. Black pieces of jewellery in reduced colors like ours were worn with the black dresses of ladies who mourned the loss of a loved one. Today, detached from convention and regulations, the brooch can also be used as a decorative accessory without sadness!

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Jett, gagat or "black amber" is a special form of fossilized coal that has been used as jewellery since prehistoric times due to its unique luster and ease of carving. The Romans were already making jewellery and amulets from this material; from the Middle Ages onwards, it was used in Europe to make mourning jewelry and rosaries. At the end of the 19th century, during the heyday of Jett fashion, Jett was mainly used for jewelry. Due to its light weight, the material made it possible to produce large pieces of jewelry, as was the fashion at the time. The main source of particularly high-quality jett at this time was on the north coast of England near the fishing village of Whitby. From here, pieces of jewelry made from jett made their way all over Europe. The Great Exhibition of 1851 in London brought gagat carvings to worldwide attention, and after Queen Victoria banned the wearing of jewellery (with the exception of jett) at the English court following the death of the Prince Consort in 1861, jett was long regarded as mourning jewelry until it became an integral part of fashion that could be worn without being displayed for mourning.

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Size & Details

The Sorrowful Mysteries

€ 690.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Our Promise

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You can rely on our years of experience in the trade and our expertise as a professional art historians for reviews of the antique jewellery. As a member of various trade organisations and the British Society of Jewellery Historians, we remain committed to the highest possible degree of accuracy. In our descriptions, we always also indicate any signs of age and defects and never hide them in our photos – this saves you from any unpleasant surprises when your package arrives.

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