Jet is a dense black fossilised wood, almost like coal, and very light in weight. It is easy to cut, so carved well.

It became popular in the Victorian era for mourning jewellery, which became fashionable after the death of Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert in 1861.

The latter part of the Victorian era was characterised by the sentimentality associated with mourning. Black has been the colour for mourning in the Western world since at least the Roman Empire, and as well as jewellery, the period saw the colour used in furniture, clothing and stationery as a mark of respect to the deceased.

Jet was in abundant supply around Whitby in Yorkshire and so jet became the obvious material for this type of jewellery. Some jet was also imported from Spain at the height of its popularity in order to meet demand.

As well as factories producing jet items, more...

51 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

Five antique mourning brooches includes carved jet, bog oak,…

Antique Mourning Brooch Collection: Jet, Bog Oak, Faux Jet

Five antique mourning brooches includes carved jet, bog oak, and faux jet.

Three Victorian brooches, the first brooch in gilt 9ct yellow…

Victorian Brooch Trio: Gold, Jet, Silver with Gems and Pearls

Three Victorian brooches, the first brooch in gilt 9ct yellow gold made by C&Co Birmingham set with a medium coloured cornflower blue sapphire and 8@ round seed pearls. Weight: 3.6 grams. Second brooch in jet with silver frame, seed pearls and pale blue…

Jet and micro mosaic brooch in a applied likely bone setting.…

Jet and micro mosaic brooch in a applied likely bone setting. Approx width 44 mm, crack to bone

An antique jet mourning brooch and matching earrings, 19th…

19th Century Jet Mourning Brooch and Earrings Set

An antique jet mourning brooch and matching earrings, 19th century, the brooch 4.2 cm wide

Victorian jet mourning brooch size 39 x 13 mm

Victorian Jet Mourning Brooch, 39x13mm

Victorian jet mourning brooch size 39 x 13 mm

Victorian jet brooch length 50 mm

Victorian Jet Brooch - 50mm Length

Victorian jet brooch length 50 mm

Antique & vintage jewellery group, includes; serpentine, ivory…

Antique & Vintage Jewellery Collection

Antique & vintage jewellery group, includes; serpentine, ivory and silver pendant, jet cross (parcel) wear, seed pearl and mother of pearl brooch a/f, carved bone ear clips, two brooches.

Victorian jet and yellow gold brooch depicting a young Roman…

Victorian Jet & Gold Brooch with Roman Empress Design

Victorian jet and yellow gold brooch depicting a young Roman Empress, size 37 x 28 mm

Carved cameo, jet and gilt metal brooch, size 38 x 30 mm

Gilt Jet Brooch with Carved Cameo

Carved cameo, jet and gilt metal brooch, size 38 x 30 mm

An antique jet brooch and locket, 19th century, the brooch 5.5…

19th Century Jet Brooch and Locket

An antique jet brooch and locket, 19th century, the brooch 5.5 cm wide

Two Victorian jet floral brooches size 39 x 46 mm & 57.5 mm,…

Chipped Victorian Jet Floral Brooches - 2 Sizes

Two Victorian jet floral brooches size 39 x 46 mm & 57.5 mm, both chipped

A boudoir container, with content, including jet earrings, a…

Antique Boudoir Treasures

A boudoir container, with content, including jet earrings, a pique pendant, gold lined lockets, bar brooches and other antique items.

Victorian carved jet brooch with later adaptations. Approx size…

Victorian Jet Brooch with Adaptations

Victorian carved jet brooch with later adaptations. Approx size 38 x 46 mm

Victorian jet mourning brooch, depicting a hand holding a…

Victorian Jet Wheat and Rose Mourning Brooch

Victorian jet mourning brooch, depicting a hand holding a sheath of wheat and roses, length 7 cm

Four antique and vintage jet brooches, 19th and early 20th…

Collection of Antique Jet Brooches, 19th-20th Century

Four antique and vintage jet brooches, 19th and early 20th century, the largest 10 cm wide

Victorian jet mourning brooch with carved with floral in high…

Victorian Floral Jet Mourning Brooch

Victorian jet mourning brooch with carved with floral in high relief. Approx size 27 x 32 mm

A Victorian shell cameo and jet brooch and earrings.

Victorian Shell & Jet Brooch Set

A Victorian shell cameo and jet brooch and earrings.

An antique jet mourning brooch, well carved.

Carved Jet Mourning Brooch

An antique jet mourning brooch, well carved.

Antique mourning jewellery group includes a jet set gold…

Antique Jet and Gold Mourning Jewellery Set

Antique mourning jewellery group includes a jet set gold Georgian brooch, locket a/f and porcelain set jet panel. The cameo is a molded simulant

Victorian Whitby jet and ammonite brooch approx 43 mm wide

Whitby Jet & Ammonite Brooch - Victorian Beauty

Victorian Whitby jet and ammonite brooch approx 43 mm wide

A mourning brooch, oval with swirls, carved in jet. Length 5.5…

Swirled Jet Mourning Brooch

A mourning brooch, oval with swirls, carved in jet. Length 5.5 cm.

A Victorian jet brooch with hand painted porcelain inset…

Victorian Jet Brooch with Porcelain Inset Miniature

A Victorian jet brooch with hand painted porcelain inset miniature

Victorian carved Whitby jet brooch, depicting 'Whitby Abbey',…

Victorian Whitby Abbey Jet Brooch with Hairline Crack

Victorian carved Whitby jet brooch, depicting 'Whitby Abbey', approx width 45 mm, hairline crack to top

A cameo brooch, set in jet surrounding. Length 5.5 cm.

Jet Cameo Brooch

A cameo brooch, set in jet surrounding. Length 5.5 cm.

A 14ct yellow gold jet & pearl flower brooch, black jet…

14ct Gold Jet & Pearl Flower Brooch with Black Overlay

A 14ct yellow gold jet & pearl flower brooch, black jet overlaid on a gold frame with a natural pearl, 3.28 mm, Wt 7 grams

A jet brooch, depicting a carved angel. Length 5 cm

Angel Jet Brooch - 5cm Length

A jet brooch, depicting a carved angel. Length 5 cm

Jet and bog oak jewellery including finely carved brooches,…

19th Century Jet and Bog Oak Carved Jewelry

Jet and bog oak jewellery including finely carved brooches, crucifix and pendants, 19th century,

Victorian gold and jet mourning brooch unmarked approx weight 3.…

Victorian Mourning Brooch: Gold and Jet, 3.5g

Victorian gold and jet mourning brooch unmarked approx weight 3.5 grams weight

A jet brooch, shaped as a Celtic cross. Diameter 4.8 cm

Celtic Cross Jet Brooch - 4.8cm Diameter

A jet brooch, shaped as a Celtic cross. Diameter 4.8 cm

An antique Victorian carved jet mourning pendant with gold…

Victorian Jet Mourning Pendant and Brooch Set

An antique Victorian carved jet mourning pendant with gold mounted inlaid seed pearls monogram. As well as a antique carved jet brooch of a hand clasping a wreath.

Antique jet mourning brooch in a gold setting and safety chain…

Antique Jet Mourning Brooch with Gold Setting

Antique jet mourning brooch in a gold setting and safety chain fastener, unmarked, 3 cm wide

Victorian carved jet brooch

Carved Jet Victorian Brooch

Victorian carved jet brooch

Victorian carved jet brooch

Victorian Jet Carved Brooch

Victorian carved jet brooch

A Victorian jet mourning brooch, designed as a hand clasping a…

Victorian Jet Hand Brooch with Posy

A Victorian jet mourning brooch, designed as a hand clasping a posy. Length 6.3 cm.

Victorian jet brooch with horseshoe & oak leaves

Victorian Jet Horseshoe Brooch with Oak Leaves

Victorian jet brooch with horseshoe & oak leaves

An antique jet cameo brooch; featuring a finely carved portrait.…

Finely Carved Jet Cameo Brooch

An antique jet cameo brooch; featuring a finely carved portrait. Size 55 x 46 mm.

Victorian 9ct gold, jet and seed pearl brooch with silver back

Victorian Gold Jet Pearl Brooch with Silver Back

Victorian 9ct gold, jet and seed pearl brooch with silver back

A Victorian jet brooch; featuring a carved portrait, 64 x 45 mm.

Victorian Jet Brooch with Carved Portrait

A Victorian jet brooch; featuring a carved portrait, 64 x 45 mm.

Three mourning brooches, one sterling silver, rectangular bar…

Mourning Brooch Trio with Pearl, Onyx, and Jet Details

Three mourning brooches, one sterling silver, rectangular bar brooch with black enamel work, inset with pearl and silver foliate motif, a 9ct yellow gold oval shaped black onyx plaque brooch set with a central single pearl and finally a jet kite shaped…

Antique black jet brooch

Vintage Black Jet Brooch

Antique black jet brooch

Victorian jet morning brooch

Victorian Jet Brooch

Victorian jet morning brooch

A Victorian 15ct gold jet brooch; star set with a panel of seed…

Victorian 15ct Gold Jet Brooch with Seed Pearls

A Victorian 15ct gold jet brooch; star set with a panel of seed pearls to key pattern border. Unmarked tests as 15ct. Dimensions 55 x 38 mm.

Georgian gold and jet brooch circa 1830-1840

Georgian Gold Jet Brooch, 1830-1840

Georgian gold and jet brooch circa 1830-1840

A jet portrait brooch

Jet Jetsetters Brooch

A jet portrait brooch

Whitby jet 'Hand and Forget-Me-Not ' brooch

Whitby Jet Forget-Me-Not Brooch

Whitby jet 'Hand and Forget-Me-Not ' brooch

Whitby jet gold and enamel hair brooch

Gold Enamel Hair Brooch with Whitby Jet

Whitby jet gold and enamel hair brooch

Whitby jet 'foliate' brooch

Foliate Jet Brooch from Whitby

Whitby jet 'foliate' brooch

Whitby jet brooch, mother of pearl inlay

Mother of Pearl Inlaid Whitby Jet Brooch

Whitby jet brooch, mother of pearl inlay

Whitby jet brooch

Jet Brooch from Whitby

Whitby jet brooch

Whitby jet Malachite Castle brooch

Malachite Castle Brooch in Whitby Jet

Whitby jet Malachite Castle brooch

Whitby jet brooch

Whitby Jet Brooch

Whitby jet brooch