Kirsten's Corner Jewelry

Victorian Whitby Jet & 14K Gold Pendant-Brooch With Warrior Cameo

$595.00

This is a beautiful and versatile piece of Victorian era mourning jewelry, made of deep black, carved jet. On the front is a relief of an androgynous looking warrior with long hair and feathers that are beautifully hand-carved. The back has a 14k gold pin (except for the stopper portion on the pin) and there is 14k gold bail attachment so that it can be worn as a pendant too. This brooch-pendant measures 2 1/4” by 1 7/8” and is 3/4” in depth. It weighs 25.1 grams.

This pedant-brooch is made with Whitby jet, which is an organic material a lightweight gemstone found on the beaches of Whitby in England. The material of jet was highly sought after then, and still expensive to this day. Jet was very popular as a gemstone for jewelry during the reign of Queen Victoria. She wore jet as part of her mourning dress after the death of Prince Albert. Since then, jet has been associated with mourning and became very fashionable in Europe. 

Jet is a type of lignite and is not a mineral but is rather a mineraloid. It is derived from wood that has changed under extreme pressure.

This piece dates to the 1860s and has a nice Gothic quality. Its somber color and modest appearance are very elegant. It would look fantastic worn with a black shirt or dress. If you’d like to complete this look with earrings, we have matching Whitby warrior cameo jet drop earrings on the site!

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