Are you wild at heart, but with a love of all things beautiful? Here we have an exquisitely carved early Victorian brooch from the 1800s featuring the face of Bacchante, the original “free-spirit girl”, a female follower of Bacchus (a.k.a. Dionysus). She is facing right with grapes and vines in her elegant hair. The central panel is carved of pale pink and white shell and set within a glowing surround of luminous Whitby jet. The Victorians loved to use images of Bacchante in art and jewelry as she represented a zest for life, lack of inhibitions, and freedom of feminine expression. 
C-clasp. 
 
Georgian and Victorian black jewelry pieces have had a recent resurgence in popularity due to their unique histories and symbolism combined with a sleek elegance that is remarkably contemporary.
 
180 million years old, the gemstone Whitby Jet is anaerobically fossilised wood of the Araucaria tree usually found in the cliffs of the North Yorkshire coastline. It is known for its deep blackness, glossy shine, and light weight, making it ideal for larger jewelry pieces. Though Whitby Jet has been used for jewelry-making since the Bronze Age and was also extremely popular during the Roman and Viking Eras, the first Whitby Jet-carving workshop was created in 1808. The fine craftsmanship of the carvers and beauty of the pieces attracted many influential people internationally, most notably the Empress of France and Queen Victoria, who wore primarily Whitby Jet jewelry after the loss of Prince Albert in 1861. The cost, rarity and popularity of Whitby Jet inspired many other lovely Victorian-era black jet copycats such as French Jet and Vulcanite, though nothing can quite compete with the unique light weight, deep-blackness (consequently known as “jet black) and lustrous finish of real Whitby Jet. 
 
MATERIAL:
Whitby Jet, Shell, Metal Clasp 
 
AGE: 
Mid 1800s 
 
CONDITION: 
Good – Signs of age and wear commensurate with age. Some small chips and scratches on the back not visible to the front. 
 
SIZE:
H 4.25 cm
W 3 cm 
Please read descriptions and inspect photos carefully, paying careful attention to size and weight. Due to the age of antique and vintage jewelry, minor abrasions and wear of finishes is normal and appreciated. All items have been tested to be in working/usable condition, unless otherwise stated. Please take care to understand safe cleaning methods for each type of gem and metal. Jewelry pieces are carefully wrapped, ribboned and shipped in an elegant velvet box. Antique boxes in photos are for illustrative purposes only.