ANTIQUE Victorian Mourning Vulcanite Cameo Locket

Beautiful and rare Vulcanite Mourning cameo locket. Very Intricate and skilled high relief carving.
Mourning jewelry has been around since at least the 16th century, but it is widely associated with the Victorian Era. Mourning jewelry of the late Victorian era (1860s – 1880s) became immensley popular after the loss and grief of Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert where she went into Mourning for 2 decades and made it fashionable.
Often called ‘ebonite’, vulcanite was the mass-produced rival to actual jet. It had the ability to be moulded and not carved. However the original mold was Hand Carved and then the rubber was poured into in. Made from the sap of Malaysian Ficus and Euphorbia rubber trees.
Vulcanite jewelry is very rare and highly collectable.
Works perfectly. Locket is sold separately.