Expanding bracelet late Victorian French jet

CONDITION: good vintage condition with acceptable wear

SIZE:1½ ins deep x 6½ - 9 ins circumference (15 – 23 cm)

APPROXIMATE DATE: 1880s - 1900

MATERIALS: French jet, elastic

DESCRIPTION:

Here is a very beautiful French jet expanding bracelet made from French jet. It is designed with an attractive floral design and is in excellent condition.

It is part of a collection of jet jewellery which I recently purchased from a private collection

French jet is a glittering form of black glass which has nothing to do with France, but was produced mainly in Bohemia, now part of modern Czechoslovakia. In the late 19th and early 20th century it was extremely popular for jewellery making. It was especially popular for mourning jewelry.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

The importance of Victorian mourning etiquette upon the production of jewellery and personal ornaments was very important. Etiquette decreed that in deep mourning, the widow and close relative of the deceased must dress in plain dark garments. The only ornaments allowed to be worn at this time were those of jet, which is a natural material found in Whitby, a small town on the East coast of the UK. In order to extend the supply of jet when it became exhausted, various other materials were employed. One of these was French jet. Many beautiful ornaments are found in this attractive and fragile material. Alas, they are often found chipped and damaged or with missing pieces. This piece is in excellent condition and complete.