DATE: Victorian, c.1890

Black jewellery was a big deal during the Victorian period, particularly after the death of Prince Albert in December 1861. Victoria never recovered, and she wore black for the entirety of her official mourning period - which lasted for the remaining 40 years of her life. Various black materials were employed in jewellery of the 19th century: onyx, jet, enamel, Berlin iron, bog oak, gutta percha, and this... vulcanite. It's a vulcanized rubber created by combining sulphur and India rubber (the sap of the Euphorbia or Ficus tree) then heating for several hours. The process is credited to Charles Goodyear, who patented it in 1844. 

This bracelet is composed of 23 torpedo shaped sections of vulcanite, cut very slightly wider at one end to conform with the base of the hand. It somehow feels far more contemporary in design that it actually is, with more of a 1960s/70s vibe than 1880s/90s.

STONES 

Vulcanite

MEASUREMENTS 

Wearable length: 6 inches unstretched 

Width: 2.6cm

WEIGHT 

15.2g

MARKS 

No marks present

CONDITION 

Very good, has been re-strung with black elastic