From the Victorian era, circa 1870s, comes this striking mourning vulcanite bangle Originally black the vulcanite has gently accrued overtime to a dark bronze hue which is seen in daylight.

The front of the bangle features a high relief carving oval panel depicting a detailed flower bouquet, which appears to have a central rose and various flowers and leaves surrounding. The elaborate carving has been mounted with screws to a tapered cuff style bangle, measuring 2.40cm at the back to 3.20cm wide at the top.

Oval in wrist shape, the inside diameter is 5.70cm x 4.50cm with an 17cm- 17.50 inside circumference. Accommodating in fit, the bangle expands over the hand.

Black jewellery was essential components of Victorian mourning attire, particularly during the decades-long mourning period observed by Queen Victoria following the death of Prince Albert in 1861. Essentially vulcanite is a vulcanized rubber created by heating sap of the Euphorbia or Ficus trees from Malaysia with sulphur. It was discovered in the early 1840's, and vulcanite was patented by Charles Goodyear in 1846. Vulcanite items can be highly polished black when manufactured but overtime the colour fades to a dark brown and is accelerated if the vulcanite is continually exposed to strong light.