Gold Rush jewelry grew out of the feverish boom years following the 1848 discovery at Sutter’s Mill. Men poured into California from every corner of the world, and by the 1860s a thriving local jewelry industry had emerged to serve them and the families who followed. These early workshops used whatever the earth offered: native gold, gold-in-quartz, agate, and other miner’s stones that spoke to the landscape itself. Pieces from this era lean toward sturdy construction and straightforward symbolism. Horseshoes, nuggets, and quartz slabs were set into lockets and watch fobs as proof of luck, perseverance, and proximity to the mines. Gold-in-quartz especially became a regional hallmark. Jewelers sliced polished slabs of white quartz shot through with natural gold veins, framing them in warm karat gold so that the piece functioned almost like a geological specimen you could wear.
thedetails
- Materials
14k gold (marked), pink, gray & black gold in quartz, enamel, agate
- Age
c. 1890
- Condition
Very good - the enamel rivets all show surface wear
- Size
1 3/4" length including the bale, 1" width
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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.
