Victorian Vulcanite Mourning Brooch
A remarkable Victorian mourning brooch dating from the latter half of the 19th century. The medium is vulcanite - the hand offers a bunch of mistletoe which, in Greek mythology, was given to heroes to grant them passage to the underworld. A garland of roses hangs below.
Vulcanite is a thermoset material invented by Charles Goodyear in 1839. It's created by heating sulphur with rubber, with the proportion of sulphur increased or decreased in order to vary the hardness of the object. Between 25-50% sulphur results in a hard product with the familiar feel of plastic.
Era: Victorian, circa 1870
Size: 3.3cm by 7.7cm
Material: Vulcanite
Marks: None, tested as base metal
Condition: Great antique condition; wear consistent with age and use.
Full appraisal document provided with each item.
This includes a valuation for insurance purposes, item specifics, date, and origins (where applicable).
Gemstones are tested by an accredited gemmologist (Cert GA, Gemmological Association of Great Britain).
Shipping
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Tracked and insured with signature on delivery
RM Special Delivery (UK domestic)
US Shipments
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[Last updated: 28th February 2026]
Resizing
Ring sizing is available on most rings
£55 flat fee
Resizing takes 7-14 days
Leave a note at checkout with your desired size
Note: sizing may remove some of the patina (although we take every care to reduce this where possible)
Layaway
25% deposit taken to secure the item. The remaining balance will be settled in 90 days. You can pay installments weekly, monthly, or the full balance at the end - whatever works.
Condition
We offer detailed and accurate condition reports on each listing. These pieces are antique, vintage, or pre-loved and often over 100 years old so they're going to have lived a life. A healthy patina and the odd scuff or scrape is quite normal... it's part of their charm! Everything we present has been checked over by our jeweller and should be good for wear for many years to come (unless otherwise stated) but please remember to treat them with appropriate care and consideration for their age.
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