Bloodstone & Cornelian Swivelling Fob

£360.00

Reference: SJ-FOB-28

9ct yellow gold.

Hallmark Birmingham 1876.

Agate (incl. Hardstones) Principle Gemstone
Yellow Gold Jewellery
Circa 1875-1900
Located at Studleys Jewellers, Wells
Antique Jewellery

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Additional Information

A double swivelling fob from the latter part of the mid-Victorian era, with two hardstones – a heliotrope or bloodstone with green and red distribution and a near-translucent diaphanous appearance, and a rich cornelian with orange and reddish-brown colours, also diaphanous. The stones are set in a swivelling section and are surmounted with an intricately engraved design featuring volumes and foliage. The fob is suspended from a jump ring and measures approximately 30.00 mm x 25.80 mm. The fob is made of 9ct gold and is hallmarked in Birmingham in 1876 with the maker’s mark “A.W” for Alfred Wigley, who registered his mark in November 1874 on Terrace Road in Birmingham.Originally, fobs were designed as a practical accessory for gentlemen’s outfits, as they were attached to the small pocket on their trousers, also known as a fob. However, they soon became fashionable and became worn purely for their appearance.One interesting aspect of Victorian fobs is that they reflect the growing interest in minerals and geology during this time period. Many fobs featured polished stones, fossils, or even miniature rock formations. These pieces not only served as beautiful adornments but also as conversation starters, as gentlemen could show off their knowledge of geology and natural history.In France, it was fashionable to wear multiple fobs at once, creating a jangling noise as the wearer moved. The noted French jewellery historian Henri Vever observed this trend in his seminal work, ‘French Jewellery of the Nineteenth Century’, where the style was called a “charivaris,” meaning “hullabaloo.”

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