This evocative Victorian jet pendant is carved in the form of a delicately gloved hand clasping a rose—an image rich in 19th-century symbolism. Jet, prized during the Victorian era for its depth of color and solemn beauty, was most closely associated with mourning jewelry and intimate expressions of loss, devotion, and memory. Jet, a fossilized lignite, was extensively employed in mourning jewelry following the death of Prince Albert and became synonymous with private grief and remembrance throughout the mid- to late-19th century.
The hand motif carried layered meaning: farewell, fidelity, blessing, or eternal connection. The rose, long emblematic of love and transience, reinforces the pendant’s emotional resonance. Together, these elements create a deeply personal object intended not merely for adornment, but for quiet remembrance.
The reverse is carved with decorative detailing, underscoring the sculptural quality of the piece and the skill required to work jet by hand. The polished surface has developed a soft luster through age, retaining the tactile presence that made jet jewelry so treasured in its time.
A compelling survivor of the Victorian mourning tradition, this pendant stands as both a work of sculpture and a vessel of sentiment.
Purchased at auction West Sussex, United Kingdom.
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