DATE: Victorian, c.1880

An exceptional Scottish bracelet dating from the latter half of the 19th century, circa 1880. The links comprise carved sections of agate: banded agate, carnelian, and jasper - all varieties of polycrystalline quartz. Scottish jewellery of the 19th century - often referred to as pebble jewellery - is known for its innovative use of cut or carved agate, usually set in silver in the form of intricate inlays or usually shaped blocks such as this one. Lapidaries working in Edinburgh's "New Town" made the majority of the pebble jewellery produced in the 18th and 19th centuries, sourcing stones from collectors who scoured the country in search of new deposits. Queen Victoria's love for all things Scottish generated a buoyant demand for jewellery of this style, and it's estimated that the number of people working in jewellery manufacturing in the 1870s exceeded two thousand.

STONES 

Carved agate links

MEASUREMENTS 

Wearable length: 7.6 inches 

Individual links: 3.2 x 2.1 x 0.8cm (H x W x D)

WEIGHT 

42.5g

MARKS 

No marks present, tests as base metal

CONDITION 

Excellent