Property from
THE COLLECTION OF DR. FRANK STANTON
GROUP OF ANTIQUE MOURNING JEWELRY
Details
GROUP OF ANTIQUE MOURNING JEWELRY
Comprising an oval tortoise shell piqué brooch designed with inlaid gold and silver in a floral pattern (chipping evident, damage evident); a tortoise shell link necklace with a tortoise shell and yellow gold heart locket (with plastic ring connecting the locket to the necklace)--20 in.; a tortoise shell link necklace with a yellow gold and enamel clasp (chipping on enamel evident)--14 in.; a pair of tortoise piqué sphere pendant fragments designed with inlaid yellow gold stars, leaves and berries, the spheres unscrew open to hollow half-spheres; a gutta-percha piqué bracelet designed with an inlaid yellow gold and silver floral pattern (clasp missing)--7 in.; a horn piqué bracelet designed with an inlaid yellow gold floral pattern--6¼ in.; a tortoise shell necklace designed with an inlaid yellow gold foliate pattern--18 in.; and a black plastic and yellow gold link necklace--13¼ in. (8)
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Samuel Peck is responsible for making gutta-percha available to the general public when in 1854 he patented this composition made of shellac (from the sap of a Maple tree), sawdust and coloring matter. This very durable and highly malleable substance made it easy to create pleasing designs and became widely used in Victorian jewelry. It was typically used in mourning pieces as the color agent tended to create black or brownish finished objects, and can be found in bracelets, lockets, cameos, and even cane handles. This forerunner of modern plastic was even documented in dental care of the day.
See illustration for heart locket, tortoise shell necklace and sphere fragments (8)
Comprising an oval tortoise shell piqué brooch designed with inlaid gold and silver in a floral pattern (chipping evident, damage evident); a tortoise shell link necklace with a tortoise shell and yellow gold heart locket (with plastic ring connecting the locket to the necklace)--20 in.; a tortoise shell link necklace with a yellow gold and enamel clasp (chipping on enamel evident)--14 in.; a pair of tortoise piqué sphere pendant fragments designed with inlaid yellow gold stars, leaves and berries, the spheres unscrew open to hollow half-spheres; a gutta-percha piqué bracelet designed with an inlaid yellow gold and silver floral pattern (clasp missing)--7 in.; a horn piqué bracelet designed with an inlaid yellow gold floral pattern--6¼ in.; a tortoise shell necklace designed with an inlaid yellow gold foliate pattern--18 in.; and a black plastic and yellow gold link necklace--13¼ in. (8)
**
Samuel Peck is responsible for making gutta-percha available to the general public when in 1854 he patented this composition made of shellac (from the sap of a Maple tree), sawdust and coloring matter. This very durable and highly malleable substance made it easy to create pleasing designs and became widely used in Victorian jewelry. It was typically used in mourning pieces as the color agent tended to create black or brownish finished objects, and can be found in bracelets, lockets, cameos, and even cane handles. This forerunner of modern plastic was even documented in dental care of the day.
See illustration for heart locket, tortoise shell necklace and sphere fragments (8)