EXTREMELY RARE!Antique Victorian circa 1880's French Jet trefoil Riviere style necklace with pendant.
This necklace is an exquisite example of Victorian mourning jewelry, specifically from the 1880s.
It features French jet, a type of black glass that was commonly used during the late Victorian era to imitate Whitby jet, a prized material often worn as part of mourning attire. Unlike real jet, which is a fossilized wood, French jet is glass with a shiny finish, typically set on black enameled metal. This material became popular due to its elegant luster and versatility in intricate designs.
The necklace’s trefoil, or three-leaf clover, motif was a common design element in Victorian jewelry, symbolizing good luck or the Holy Trinity. The choice of black and the delicate, detailed design reflect the period’s emphasis on mourning and memorial jewelry, a tradition that became especially prominent after Queen Victoria’s prolonged mourning for Prince Albert. Pieces like this would have been worn to convey respect, sentiment, and remembrance, making it both a fashionable and deeply symbolic accessory of the time.
The necklace features a sequence of 19x trefoil clovers, each designed with three teardrop-shaped, faceted French jet stones that form the petals, lending a rich black shine typical of French jet. The stems of each clover are adorned with three small round-cut French jet stones, enhancing the depth and luxury of the piece.
The necklace is set on black enameled metal, which seamlessly blends with the jet stones to create a cohesive, striking look. The clasp is a hidden push-in style, meticulously designed to blend with the rest of the necklace, and it is topped with an oval, faceted French jet stone for an added touch of sophistication. Additionally, the necklace includes a slightly larger trefoil clover pendant, matching the style of the other clovers but standing out due to its slightly larger size.
Provenance : This extremely rare necklace was purchased at Reads in Rosebank in 2016 for R14 220.00 , see last pictures for this exact beauty featured in their 2015/2016 catalogue.
Measurements :The necklace with a total length of 42cm.Each of the trefoil clovers measure 1.8cm x 1.6cm.The trefoil pendant measures 1.9cm x 1.8cm.Necklace with a total weight of 30.4grams.
