On August 27, 1883, the volcanic island of Krakatoa, off the coast of Java, erupted in a powerful explosion. Ash darkened the skies over London; the noise of the blast could be heard thousands of miles away in Australia and India. Before the incident, Krakatoa was an obscure spice-trading island. After the epic volcano, however, "Krakatoa" became a worldwide synonym for disaster, catastrophe, and the awe-inspiring destructive power of nature. Victorian society became fascinated by everything having to do with it. Songs, plays, books, fashion, and paintings used the volcano as inspiration and the exotic culture and landscape of Java as a backdrop. To this day, it's the most notorious and romantic volcano of all time in popular culture, with the possible exception of Pompeii. This necklace is a tribute to Krakatoa in the Victorian imagination.

On a 28-inch chain, we threaded a working aluminum compass, a tiny nugget of volcanic basalt, (lava), and a gunmetal-colored disc that reads "Bon Voyage". The lava is secured by an antique brass safety pin that we've clamped shut so it won't come undone. Brass spring ring at back.

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