Discovered around 1839, Vulcanite was patented by Charles Goodyear in 1846. It is essentially a rubber compund that has been hardened by the addition of chemicals and heat. It is mostly black in colour and was used as a substitute for jet, which is a fossilised wood, black in colour and similar to coal. Vulcanite items can be highly polished when manufactured, but over time they become dull and the black colour fades to a dark brown. The process is accelarated if the Vulcanite is contatnly exposed to strong light. Vulcanite items will be moulded, whilst jet items are carved, and this difference can be used to distinguish between the two materials. Because of their colour, both Vulcanite and jet were used for mourning jewellery. As well as its use in jewellery, Vulcanite was also used for vesta cases, buttons, combs, fountain pens and in the manufacture of cameras.

37 items found:

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

A Victorian Vulcanite pendant necklace, Celtic cross size 85 x…

A Victorian Vulcanite pendant necklace, Celtic cross size 85 x 50 mm, on a silver gilt double curb link Albert chain with swivel clasp, width 3.5 mm, length 43 cm.

An impressive George Philip & Son Ltd with Georama Ltd large…

An impressive George Philip & Son Ltd with Georama Ltd large 30" terrestrial library globe, the globe made up of colour printed paper gores over and vulcanite base. Metal meridian circle, mounted in a mahogany octagonal frame with four turned legs and…

Antique Vulcanite brooch with a later pin. Approx size 49 x 41…

Antique Vulcanite Brooch with Later Pin (49 x 41mm)

Antique Vulcanite brooch with a later pin. Approx size 49 x 41 mm

A Victorian vulcanite mourning brooch, as a hand clasping a…

Vulcanite Mourning Brooch: Hand Clasping Wreath

A Victorian vulcanite mourning brooch, as a hand clasping a floral wreath.

A Victorian Vulcanite cruciform pendant on mourning hair…

Victorian Vulcanite Cruciform Pendant on Hair Albertina Bracelet

A Victorian Vulcanite cruciform pendant on mourning hair Albertina, 11 mm round braided hair Albertina bracelet with gold plated plaque, fittings and bolt ring clasp attached by a swivel clasp with a vulcanite cross with key pattern and leaf detail…

A Victorian vulcanite snuff box, in the form of a woman's boot…

Victorian Vulcanite Woman's Boot Snuff Box with Pearl Buttons

A Victorian vulcanite snuff box, in the form of a woman's boot with mother of pearl buttons, length 10.5 cm.

An antique Vulcanite brooch; carved trees and a water mill…

Vulcanite Brooch with Carved Trees and Water Mill House

An antique Vulcanite brooch; carved trees and a water mill house, size 48 x 41 mm.

A Victorian Vulcanite pendant, on Italian silver chain.

Victorian Vulcanite Pendant on Italian Silver Chain

A Victorian Vulcanite pendant, on Italian silver chain.

Victorian Vulcanite high relief classical portrait pendant…

Classical Vulcanite Portrait Pendant with Silver Backing

Victorian Vulcanite high relief classical portrait pendant sterling silver backed

Bakelite cigar box. Containing vulcanite brooch; two…

Antique Cigar Box with Brooch, Daguerreotype Cases, and Watches

Bakelite cigar box. Containing vulcanite brooch; two daguerreotype cases (A/F); ladies notebook and pencil; three pocket watches; and chain.

Victorian Vulcanite cameo brooch depicting a young Hellenistic…

Victorian Vulcanite Hellenistic Cameo Brooch

Victorian Vulcanite cameo brooch depicting a young Hellenistic women, approx size 45.5 mm x 55 mm

Modernist Danish sterling silver bracelet with roundel panelled…

Danish Modernist Sterling Silver Bracelet with Vulcanite Stones

Modernist Danish sterling silver bracelet with roundel panelled brushed finished links set with black rough cut gemstones, probably Vulcanite. Marked Sterling silver NE From 925s Denmark. Approx length 18 cm, weight 54 grams

Vintage silver lorgnette and cigar holder, lorgnette with…

Antique Lorgnette and Cigar Holder Set

Vintage silver lorgnette and cigar holder, lorgnette with trigger release handle inlaid with black and white enamel, some losses and a vulcanite cigar holder with silver fittings hallmarked Birmingham 1912, in fitted case.

A rare pair of vulcanite picture frames, 19th century, 25 x 21…

19th Century Vulcanite Picture Frames (Rare Pair)

A rare pair of vulcanite picture frames, 19th century, 25 x 21 cm

W.G. Grace pipe 1895. Vulcanite cricket pipe with cricket bat…

W.G. Grace Cricket Pipe 1895

W.G. Grace pipe 1895. Vulcanite cricket pipe with cricket bat stem and cricket ball and 'Grace head' pipe bowl. Stamped 'W.G.G. Et.47. A.D. 1895'. 'Centuplico' and 'Made abroad'. 14 cm long.

A finely moulded vulcanite box case enclosing two portrait…

Aurora & Cherub: Grandparents Shortland & Mincher

A finely moulded vulcanite box case enclosing two portrait photographs, both hinged faces moulded with a depiction of Aurora and a cherub. The photos inscribed verso Grandfather Shortland and Grandmother Mincher. 12.5 cm x 10 cm x 2.5 cm. Provenance: The…

Victorian Vulcanite mourning brooch and bangles

Victorian Vulcanite mourning jewelry set

Victorian Vulcanite mourning brooch and bangles

A pair of Vulcanite cameo earrings, set in 9 carat yellow gold.…

Vulcanite Cameo Earrings in 9ct Gold

A pair of Vulcanite cameo earrings, set in 9 carat yellow gold. Diameter 2.5 cm. Weight 9.4g.

A brown Vulcanite suitcase containing Edison cylindrical…

Vintage Phonograph Records in Vulcanite Suitcase

A brown Vulcanite suitcase containing Edison cylindrical Records, thirty one blue Amberol phonograph records, mostly in original cardboard tubes.

Victorian ornate Vulcanite Daguerreotype case by Littlefield,…

Victorian Vulcanite Daguerreotype Case by Littlefield Parsons & Co

Victorian ornate Vulcanite Daguerreotype case by Littlefield, Parsons & Co

Victorian Vulcanite and jet locket pendants, vulcanite with…

Victorian Vulcanite and Jet Locket Pendants

Victorian Vulcanite and jet locket pendants, vulcanite with cameo of young woman with grapes in her hair, bun and bale missing, jet set with seed pearls, some repairs, locket compartment on reverse

Vintage Vulcanite brooch in good condition

Vintage Vulcanite Brooch in Good Condition

Vintage Vulcanite brooch in good condition

Opera length Vulcanite beaded necklace

Vulcanite Opera Beads

Opera length Vulcanite beaded necklace

Vulcanite chain link necklace, with no clasp

Claspless Vulcanite Chain Link Necklace

Vulcanite chain link necklace, with no clasp

Vulcanite cameo sectional bracelet

Vulcanite Cameo Sectional Bracelet

Vulcanite cameo sectional bracelet

Victorian style Vulcanite Queen Victoria mourning cameo

Victorian Mourning Cameo: Queen Victoria in Vulcanite

Victorian style Vulcanite Queen Victoria mourning cameo

A Victorian vulcanite necklace and floral pendant vulcanite;…

Victorian Vulcanite Necklace with Floral Pendant

A Victorian vulcanite necklace and floral pendant vulcanite; English; Vulcanite has oxidised red/brown colour; fair condition 30 cm long

Antique vulcanite cameo brooch, 4.9 cm high

Antique Vulcanite Cameo Brooch

Antique vulcanite cameo brooch, 4.9 cm high

A Victorian daguerrotype in a Vulcanite box, circa 1860s, the…

Victorian Daguerrotype in Vulcanite Box

A Victorian daguerrotype in a Vulcanite box, circa 1860s, the oval hinged box, decorated in relief to both sides with a bucolic scene depicting small children with a sheep and surrounded by rose garlands, the velvet lined interior enclosing a…

Very long vulcanite necklace, can be worn as long necklace or…

Versatile Vulcanite Necklace: Long or Doubled Loop

Very long vulcanite necklace, can be worn as long necklace or doubled over with smaller links worn as the shorter loop

An unusual Vulcanite Albert chain; bi coloured graduated oval…

Bi-Coloured Vulcanite Albert Chain with Swivel Clasps

An unusual Vulcanite Albert chain; bi coloured graduated oval links with two swivel clasps. Length 51 cm.

European school, early 19th century miniature of a gentleman…

Gentleman with Measuring Instrument Miniature

European school, early 19th century miniature of a gentleman holding measuring instrument, painted on ivory, vulcanite frame

Vintage vulcanite cross, approx 9 cm in length

Vintage Vulcanite Cross - 9cm Length

Vintage vulcanite cross, approx 9 cm in length

Five various fountain Pens. Shaeffer imp VIII; Empress; Buck…

Assorted Fountain Pens with Silver Dunhill Barrel

Five various fountain Pens. Shaeffer imp VIII; Empress; Buck Vulcanite; Conway Stewart; Watermans U.K. and Dunhill, with silver barrel

Four various fountain pens. Sterling silver Sheaffer; Onoto 9ct…

Luxury Fountain Pen Collection

Four various fountain pens. Sterling silver Sheaffer; Onoto 9ct banded vulcanite; Osmonoid sterling silver; and Swan 2C, gilt banded vulcanite

A Victorian Vulcanite mourning locket, oval, with a wreath motif

Victorian Vulcanite Mourning Locket with Wreath Motif

A Victorian Vulcanite mourning locket, oval, with a wreath motif