MORRIGAN Earrings Antique British Victorian Jet Cherry Amber Celtic Medieval Style

I've crafted these new one-of-a-kind earrings in tribute to her legend, in genuine Victorian-era British jet from the famed Whitby mines in Yorkshire. These were the very same mines that provided jet to the ancient Celts of that region. Since it is heavy and hard, unlike softer lignite jet, British jet was always cut in irregular patterns because it did not lend itself to regular faceting. These 3mm. and 5mm. beads date from about the 1870s to 1880s. I've combined them with oval pendants of the finest Baltic cherry amber, clear and unprocessed (not the dreadful murky stuff that is still being passed off as genuine cherry amber), and set in sterling silver frames with a leaf pattern. Amber was highly prized by the ancient Celts as the fabled "Gold of the North." This rare cherry amber would have been worn only by a high-ranking Celtic lady.

The British Whitby jet beads are worked on sterling silver-filled pins with 2mm. silverplated bead accents. Because jet is a somber gemstone, i've added 4mm. faceted silverplated beads or some extra sparkle. there are a total of 12 British Whitby jet beads in the clusters. They hang from secure sterling silver leverback wires. They measure a total of 1 and 5/8".

The beads do show some nicks and wear, but they are, after all, approximately 130 to 140 years old and an organic mineral. I would assess them in fairly good shape for this age. They also match my Morrigan Cherry Amber and British Jet coil wrap bracelet.

All metals are sterling silver, except the jewelry pins which are sterling silver-filled, and the faceted silvertone beads which are silver-plate. The cherry amber and jet are genuine. The British jet beads are all genuine jet from the Whitby mines in Yorkshire, that came from antique Victorian mourning necklaces I bought at estate sales. All of them dated from about the 1870s and 1880s. I was fortunate to have purchased quite a few of these genuine jet necklaces before the era of Internet estate sales. My jet beads are in remarkably good shape despite their age, because Whitby jet is so durable. (And for the many fans of the Gothic, Whitby was where Bram Stoker's original Count Dracula landed in England when he arrived from Transylvania........)

Feel like a Celtic lady of ancient Britain wearing these, my Lady. I love crafting Celtic-inspired jewelry with this jet, as the Celts of the ancient British Isles would have gotten their jet from the same mines in Yorkshire (then known as Brigantia).

The haunting image of the Morrigan is by Amber Delaine of The Fairywood, done in her traditional colors of red, black and silver-white. You can find her store in my Favorite Links section. Many thanks to Lady Amber for her permission to use her beautiful interpretation of the Morrigan.

NOTE: all my original designs and text are sole property of Strega2 Jewelry and protected under Title 17 of the copyright laws. Any copying, adaptation or infringement will result in legal action.

Item ID: n/a1274