Bog oak is a type of wood that comes from oak trees that have been buried in peat bogs for thousands of years. At some point, this black material became associated with Ireland - maybe there are lots of bogs there? Lots of late 19th century Irish souvenir schlock - think harps, shamrocks - were churned out to sell to tourists. I've never seen bog oak used in mourning jewelry before, never this finely worked, and it's so old! Inside this band, we see death details for Mary Drevar, the wife of the Bank of Ireland's governor. This was an important family in Ireland in the early 1800s, and their house still stands in Rose Hill, Blackrock, Dublin. They were proud of their Irishness and used Bog Oak to telegraph this to the mourners at Mary's funeral in 1845. She lived a relatively cushy life, I imagine, and died at age 66.
thedetails
- Materials
10k gold (tests), bog oak
- Age
dedicated in 1845
- Condition
Very good - slight wear to the interior engraving
- Size
5.5, cannot be resized; 9.4mm shank
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Aboutthe
VictorianEra
1837 — 1901
The Victorians were avid consumers and novelty-seekers, especially when it came to fashion, and numerous fads came and went throughout the 19th century. In jewelry, whatever fashion choices Queen V. made reverberated throughout the kingdom. The Romantic period reflected the queen’s legendary love for her husband, Albert.
Jewelry from this period featured joyful designs like flowers, hearts, and birds, all which often had symbolic meaning. The queen’s betrothal ring was made in the shape of a snake, which stood for love, fidelity, and eternity. The exuberant tone shifted after Prince Albert passed away in 1861, marking the beginning of the Grand Period. Black jewelry became de rigeur as the Queen and her subjects entered “mourning,” which at the time represented not just an emotional state, as we conceive of it today, but a specific manner of conduct and dress. She wore the color black for the remainder of her life, and we see lots of black onyx, enamel, jet, and gutta percha in the jewelry from this time. Finally, during the late Victorian period, which transitioned along with a rapidly changing world into the “Aesthetic Movement”, there was a return to organic and whimsical motifs: serpents, crescent moons, animals, and Japonaisserie designed for the more liberated “Gibson Girl”. During the second half of the 19th century, America entered the global jewelry market, with Tiffany and Co. leading the way. Lapidaries continued to perfect their techniques, and the old European cut emerged toward the end of the Victorian period. The discovery of rich diamond mines in South Africa made the colorless stones more accessible than ever before.
please note:Terms of Sale
Antiques can be returned unworn and in original condition within 10 days of delivery for an exchange or refund minus the cost of shipping. Once a piece has been altered, including ring re-sizing, it is FINAL SALE.