Scenery retailer Brooch

This item is handmade by Beth Miller Hall and cast from a mold taken from an original in her collection. Any minor flaws are consistent with the original item.

The original brooch is made from jet. Brooches made from jet in the mid-19th century were more complicated to construct than most people realize. Most jet brooches and earrings were made from many small pieces that were expertly fitted together retailer. This is true of this jet compass brooch. It was so expertly crafted, that it appears to have been carved in one piece. “Whitby Jet” is the jet that was collected near a coastal town in England called Whitby. The jet that comes from this area is known for its quality and strength.

Rail travel in the 19th century made it easier for people to go to new places and see new things. When they traveled, they liked to bring back souvenirs of the places they visited much like we still do today. This brooch is an excellent example of jewelry items that were being made for the mid 19th century tourist industry in both its style and construction. The painted design themes for this type of jewelry often included an historic landmark that the tourist might visit.

The frame of this original brooch was made of jet with the delicate painting done on shell. This would have been a prized souvenir.
Because of the jet and the travel theme of this piece, this would have been more commonly been worn by a wealthier class. To have something carved from a piece of jet that was this size would have been reflected in the market cost.

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