Antique 1880s Genuine Whitby Jet Hand Carved Stretch Bracelet - Complete Carved Jet Bracelet - RARE Victorian Jet Black Mourning Bracelet

This listing is for the Antique Victorian Authentic Whitby Jet Hand Carved Elastic Stretch Bracelet. This bracelet is made of 12 finely carved genuine Whitby Jet beads, a rare stone found only on the coast of Yorkshire, England. Whitby jet can be identified by its smooth, reflective back, hand carved details, and style that matches popular designs and patterns of the Victorian period, all of which can be observed in this bracelet. One of the beads has a crack in it, as pictured. The jet beads are connected by two elastic bands, which are not original to the bracelet, being replaced sometime during its history for continued wear. This is a rare, genuine antique from the Victorian period! Perfect example of Victorian mourning jewelry popularized in the late 19th century. Must have for any collection! 

Whitby Jet is a specific type of prehistoric, fossilized wood that is found only on the Yorkshire coast of England. The stone was named after the town of Whitby, where the stone was first found. Due to the extreme climate conditions that occurred during the Lower Jurassic Period, the decayed remains of prehistoric trees went through millions of years of extreme temperatures and pressure, eventually creating the hard, deep black surface of Whitby Jet. The stone has been used in jewelry since the Neolithic era throughout the British Isles. In Roman Britain, Jet was crafted into amulets and pendants which were believed to hold magical healing properties. This belief remained as we enter the Middle Ages, where jet was crushed into a powder and used medicinally. After the death of Prince Albert in 1861, Queen Victoria and her court entered a state of mourning, during which she only allowed for jet jewelry to be worn. The queen remained in mourning for the rest of her life, a decision that heavily influenced the fashion of the late Victorian era, which saw a shift towards the macabre. At the center of this fashion shift was Whitby jet, which had remained popular after the court’s mourning period. By the end of the 19th century the town of Whitby had fully embraced the jet jewelry industry, becoming a popular travel destination among the upper class. The town adopted the same macabre facade associated with jet jewelry at this time. This facade is likely what led the author Bram Stoker to set his 1897 novel Dracula in Whitby. In 1890, Stoker visited the town for inspiration, and it was at the Whitby town library where he first read of Vlad Tepes, a 15th century prince who was also known as “Dracula”. By the 20th century jet jewelry fell out of favor due to the decrease in the popularity of the mourning style after Queen Victoria's reign, leaving the gemstone as a distinct staple of the 19th century. Jet mining is essentially illegal today in Britain, as no jet mining rights have been granted since 1920.

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Antique 1880s Genuine Whitby Jet Hand Carved Stretch Bracelet - Complete Carved Jet Bracelet - RARE Victorian Jet Black Mourning Bracelet