A cool Victorian gold shark tooth pendant, dating from circa 1880.

The shark tooth would have most likely come from a hammerhead shark or a tiger shark, and it has been set in gold to be worn as a pendant. The gold is engraved with crosshatched detailing.

In Victorian England, jewellery set with exotic animal teeth was more than just a status symbol - it was thought that when worn as a charm, the teeth imparted the animal’s strength, speed and cunning to the wearer.

The pendant measures 2cm by 1.2cm (excluding the bail). It weighs 1.11 grams. The pendant is stamped with a French ‘clover’ control mark to indicate that it was crafted in 9K gold and imported into the country, probably from England.

The Victorian era was a period of great change and innovation in the world of jewellery. Spanning from 1837 to 1901, the era witnessed an explosion of styles from romantic and sentimental to Gothic and grotesque. The use of jet, onyx, and coral in mourning jewellery became popular after the death of Prince Albert in 1861. The discovery of diamond mines in South Africa in 1867 led to an increase in the use of diamonds in jewellery, as well as the popularity of more elaborate gemstone cuts such as the cushion, rose, and old mine cuts.

Victorian jewellery was also notable for its use of complex symbolism, such as snake motifs that represented eternal love or the use of flowers to convey hidden meanings. The jewellery made in this era featured the finest materials and was made by highly skilled craftsmen, making it some of the most desirable antique jewellery for its unique charm and fine quality.

DELIVERY

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RETURNS

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