As is already known, Scottish jewelry was popularized by Victoria (and Albert), during the Romantic Period (1837-1860). Here's some more of what I found out about that time:
Many times misidentified as 'Scotch topaz' or 'smoky topaz' the most popular gem in Scottish degined jewelry was caringorm. A black to brown to tea colored stone no longer found anywhere including the place it was mined: The Scottish Highlands (hence the name caringorm, from the mountain range). The gem is a variety of smoky quartz, it's color caused by irradiation of rock crystal with aluminum impurities.
Enameled bracelets patterned with family tartan colors and pins and pins were very popular Scottish jewelry pieces. A good deal of Scottish style jewelry was silver, though some were made using gold. Bloodstone, carnelian, moss agate and (as previously mentioned) caringorm and enamel were among the most common gems found in Scottish Victorian Jewelry.
Showing posts with label Jewelry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jewelry. Show all posts
Monday, March 17, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
Somethings on Gold that Happened in Victoria's Reign
From 1851 to the late 1860s, an Australian gold rush took place in the state of Victoria. In that time, Victoria was the largest exporter of gold in the world.
Early Victorian gold pieces could vary from 18 to 22 karat. Then in 1854, the Stamp Act was passed, which made gold content standardized at 9, 12, or 15 karats. It also made jewelry producers obligated to hallmark their pieces declaring the karat number.
Jewelers could then start to experiment with different types of casting, like chasing and granulation. Because the gold standard was less, gold jewelry was easier to buy. Hurrah for parliamentary change! It can make the economy grow!
Early Victorian gold pieces could vary from 18 to 22 karat. Then in 1854, the Stamp Act was passed, which made gold content standardized at 9, 12, or 15 karats. It also made jewelry producers obligated to hallmark their pieces declaring the karat number.
Jewelers could then start to experiment with different types of casting, like chasing and granulation. Because the gold standard was less, gold jewelry was easier to buy. Hurrah for parliamentary change! It can make the economy grow!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Related Facts: Diamonds & Queen Victoria
The Excelsior Diamond was found on June 30, 1893 at the Jagersfontein Mine.
Weighing in at a huge 971-3/4 carats, the gem was later altered to ten stones ranging from 13 to 68 carats. It was the largest Diamond known prior to the Cullinan.
The Cullinan was found in 1905, an immense 3,106.75 carats. Huge! It was later given to King Edward VII. The gem was cut into three large parts by Asscher Brothers of Amsterdam, and eventually into some 11 large gem-quality stones and a number of smaller fragments. The largest polished gem from the stone is a 530.2 carat stone named the Great Star of Africa or Cullinan I.
A second very large gem from the original Cullinan stone is the Cullinan II (also known as the Lesser Star of Africa,); and is 317.4 carats. It's also part of the British crown jewels, as it's including the Imperial State Crown.
Incidentally, the Imperial State Crown has several precious gems, including: 2,868 diamonds, 11 emeralds 273 pearls, 5 rubies, and 17 sapphires. That's 2.006 206 586 02 lbs. (910g) Yikes, that must be heavy if you've gotta wear it for hours! No wonder Queen Victoria had that smaller crown made!
Weighing in at a huge 971-3/4 carats, the gem was later altered to ten stones ranging from 13 to 68 carats. It was the largest Diamond known prior to the Cullinan.
The Cullinan was found in 1905, an immense 3,106.75 carats. Huge! It was later given to King Edward VII. The gem was cut into three large parts by Asscher Brothers of Amsterdam, and eventually into some 11 large gem-quality stones and a number of smaller fragments. The largest polished gem from the stone is a 530.2 carat stone named the Great Star of Africa or Cullinan I.
A second very large gem from the original Cullinan stone is the Cullinan II (also known as the Lesser Star of Africa,); and is 317.4 carats. It's also part of the British crown jewels, as it's including the Imperial State Crown.
Incidentally, the Imperial State Crown has several precious gems, including: 2,868 diamonds, 11 emeralds 273 pearls, 5 rubies, and 17 sapphires. That's 2.006 206 586 02 lbs. (910g) Yikes, that must be heavy if you've gotta wear it for hours! No wonder Queen Victoria had that smaller crown made!
Friday, February 22, 2008
Victorian Jewelry Symbolism
Here is some of what I found:
- Arrows = Love (Cupid's arrows)
Bluebells = Constancy
Butterfly = Soul
Clasped Hands = Friendship, Lasting Love
Crowned Heart = Love Triumphant
Daisy = Innocence
Dogs = Fidelity
Doves = Domesticity
Fern = Fascination
Flaming Heart = Passionate Love
Fly = Humility
Forget Me Nots = Remembrance
Ivy = Friendship, fidelity, marriage
Lilac = First feelings of Love
Mistletoe = A kiss
Pearls = Tears
Wishbone = Wish and Hope
Complex, isn't it?
Friday, January 25, 2008
A Wonderful and Insightful Overview Of Victorian Jewels
Click Here to Enjoy!
Friday, January 18, 2008
Hand-Wrought Jewelry Well-Designed, Well-Made, In Demand
A Treasure of Time Honored Techniques On Making Jewelry!
Hand-Wrought Jewelry While the general fad for anything and everything handmade, no matter how crude, has been tempered with better judgment, there still remains a strong, rapidly, increasing and discriminating demand for well-designed, well-made, tasteful hand-wrought jewelry.
was created by authors
who lived what they taught.
From the Introductory:
The Authors:
Samuel Jesse Vaughn was the Head of the Manual Arts Department at Illinois State in DeKalb, Illinois in 1916. This school became Northern Illinois University which still teaches jewelry making within the Art Department.
Henry Richard Sorensen, a former Kalo silversmith, was proprietor of The Orno Shop in DeKalb. This shop is no longer in operation. There is limited knowledge about the shop but any pieces from there are considered rare.
Though the designs in this book aren't stictly Victorian, the methods are esentially the same. When you read this book, you get a glimpse of how the masters create their beautiful works.
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