Whitby Jet Jewels in the Victorian Age

• Author(s): Mendonça de Carvalho, Luís ; Fernandes, Francisca Maria ; Nunes, Maria de Fatima ; Brigola, João
• Date: 2013
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10174/10071
• Origin: Repositório Científico da Universidade de Évora
• Subject(s): History of Science; Victorian Age; Botanic; Scientific culture
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

Abstract. During the middle nineteenth century, jet obtained from Whitby (England) was sought after due to its dark black color and hardness. This fossilized plant material was used in mourning jewelry, and Whitby hard jet was regarded among the best for carving and bead making. Jet fashion was connected with Queen Victoria, whose long mourning period lasted for almost forty years.