Jet Cameo Brooch ‘Lady with Tiara & Scarf’ 

This antique mourning brooch is a distinctive example of Victorian craftsmanship. Hand carved from genuine Jet, its ornate portrait cameo highlights the period’s refined artistry and represents the era’s reverence for personal mementoes.

Jet is fossilised Araucaria wood from the Jurassic period, dating approximately 150 to 180 million years ago. Valued for its lustrous black hue and rarity, Jet gained prominence in Victorian Britain, when black jewellery became fashionable beyond mourning, serving as mementoes of affection, loss, and remembrance alongside Jet, bog oak, vulcanite, and pressed horn.

Victorian cameos, such as the one on this brooch, were intricately carved to depict meaningful figures or motifs and believed to offer protection and good luck. This antique not only showcases period artistry but also connects us to the emotional traditions of Victorian society.

Specifications
Description: Whitby Jet
Condition: Original, good, imperfections include, one crack on the front, one chip at the back (not visible from the front), and a few chips along the inner cameo base
Colour: Lustrous black
Closure Type: C-clasp
Period: Victorian era (1837-1901), late 19th century
Dimensions: H5.3cm x W4.4cm x D2.2cm, approximately

PLEASE NOTE Our antique and vintage collections are second-hand items. Customers are not purchasing ‘new’, ‘perfect’ or ‘unworn items’, and as such, should expect wear and imperfections. It is expected that these pieces will show normal wear and tear, given their age. Wear could include patina, scuffs, and light scratches or chips. Images are of actual items. Please review the photos carefully before purchasing and reach out if you have any questions.