Victorian Whitby Jet Bicone Bead Necklace: English Mourning Jewelry

Circa 1880, a beautiful antique Victorian Whitby jet necklace showcasing 45 gently graduating beads carved in a hard to find design. The beads are in a hand-carved bicone shape with a central faceted ring reminiscent of the planet Saturn. We have seen Whitby Jet beads carved in rose, fern or full-facet forms but rarely this particular pattern. This elegant design of the town's skilful artisans remains as stunning today as it was 150 years ago!

At a full 24"/61cm long the necklace is a perfect statement length. The big bold chunky beads vary from around 18mm to 12mm in diameter, although they are not identical in size as you might expect in beads made by hand. They are strung onto heavy duty waxed cord and the necklace fastens with a brass barrel clasp that screws securely closed. The necklace weighs 69.7 grams. In overall excellent condition with slight chipping and minor cracks seen on some of the beads under close magnification. This does not detract from the overall aesthetic of the necklace and should be expected. A superb Whitby jet Victorian statement necklace and a collector's dream!

Victorian Whitby jet jewellery is closely associated with mourning and it had many competitors. If you are unfamiliar with genuine jet it is a deep glossy black fossilized mineral gemstone only found in and around the cliffs at Whitby, a seaside hamlet in England. It is warm to the touch and will leave a brown mark when rubbed against unglazed porcelain, not to be confused with "French jet" which is simply black glass. We are based in the Whitby area and all of our jet jewellery is sourced locally.
At Mercy Madge we offer quality antique and vintage jewellery sourced in Great Britain. All of our pieces are professionally cleaned and polished so they are ready to wear and enjoy or give as a gift.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
* We offer free worldwide shipping on all purchases
* Returns - you can return your item for a refund for any reason. Just get in touch within 3 days of receiving your order and return it within 7 days.
* All gemstones have been tested and verified using a Presidium Gemstone Tester. All measurements and carat weights given are approximations.
* Our photographs have been taken in extreme close up to show you every tiny detail. This often means that any flaws or damage which you can see on the photos will be invisible when viewed normally with the eye. This can also mean that the item can appear larger on the screen than it is in person, so please be sure to read our written description to double check all sizes and dimensions.
* Buying a gift? – your item will arrive gift wrapped in a custom Mercy Madge jewellery box. Please note, unless otherwise stated antique boxes in our photos are for display only and are not included in the purchase.