Antique Black Vulcanite Mourning Bracelet - Chunky Victorian Era Stretch Bracelet c.1870s - Remarkably Clear and Crisp Details

A lovely 19th-century stretch mourning bracelet with eight black oval medallions made of "Ebonite," also known as "Vulcanite," which was used as a substitute for Whitby jet.

Give your antique jewelry collector a special gift with this gorgeous Victorian mourning bracelet. It will be a memorable and cherished gift for her or him.

The bracelet dates to the Victorian Era, c. 1870s, and is in excellent vintage/antique condition. The symbols on the front of the medallions are remarkably crisp and clear with little to no loss of detail and only some minor deterioration on the back, which is shown in the photos.

The color is consistent among the tiles and shows very little overall fading without any of the browning that occurs when vulcanite has been exposed to sunlight.

The bracelet has eight black oval medallions--four large (1.5-inches) and four smaller (1-inch). The large medallions have two different designs. One has a cross, anchor, and heart design, and the other is an image of the Roman god, Bacchus, holding a grapevine.

The smaller medallions also have two different designs. One is a shield with a diagonal banner and two stars, while the other is floral with fruit in a compote bowl, similar to a cornucopia.

All the medallions have a similar rope-like outline, except for the cross, anchor, and heart medallions, which have a scalloped outline.



VICTORIAN MOURNING JEWELRY SYMBOLOGY:
*The cross, anchor, and heart design represents "faith, hope, and love or charity."

*Bacchus (Greek name "Dionysus") is a symbol of death and rebirth, and represents the promise of seeing loved ones again.

*The stars possibly represent the spirit of the deceased, while the shield and banner possibly represent the deceased's funerary hatchment.

*The fruit is most likely a symbol of fertility, abundance, and prosperity, similar to a cornucopia.


SHIPPING:
This item will be shipped with insurance and signature required upon delivery.