Color:
Black with brown modifiers
Durability:
Rather fragile, but good for beads
and pendants
Localities:
British Isles |
Jet
Jet
is a variety of coal called lignite. It is rather fragile
but lends itself well to carving. Examples of carved jet
date back to the Paleolithic period. It was used extensively
in Victorian mourning jewelry after the death of Victoria's
husband, Prince Albert in 1861. Due to it's chemical composition
(hydrogen, oxygen and carbon) it can be burned. The fumes
it gives off were once thought to have medicinal powers,
able to cure hysteria and diagnose epilepsy. In the ancient
British Isles, jet was believed to protect against the work
of the devil, demonic possession, and the consequences of
witchcraft. It was also burned in magical ceremonies to
aid in contacting the dead and foretelling the future.
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