Featuring a classical motif, this brooch is made in the chunky style popular in the middle of the 19th century. Whitby jet is a material found on the beaches of Whitby, England in Yorkshire.  Its popularity for jewelry took off in the 1850s and 1860s when Queen Victoria included it in her mourning attire and faded in the 1870s. Though black jewelry was worn for mourning, it was commonly worn with non-mourning fashions. Jewelry sets of matching earrings and brooch or even of additional items such as bracelets were popular throughout the 19th century. 

Mid-19th century jewelry is underrepresented in the collection generally and this bold, classical style is not represented at all. Having the matching brooch to the earrings we already have will help illustrate how these objects were often purchased originally as a set. This type of jewelry with its unique material demonstrates the Victorian fascination with the natural world incorporating it into fashion.