Antique Mourning Jet Glass Beads 10mm Shield (12 beads) JET114

Superb antique French jet mourning glass beads! They have been packed away until now. I was incredibly fortunate to get them from the Czech Republic. These are more than 100 years old! Made in Czech between the late 1800's and early 1900's. "Mourning jewelry has been around since at least the 16th century, but it is widely associated with the Victorian Era, when mass production made it affordable. The trend reached its highest point after the death of Prince Albert in 1861, when Queen Victoria, as well as members of her court, wore black clothing and matching mourning jewelry for decades. The French could not keep up with production to meet demand so the Czechs filled in and some of the beads found their way into a secret stash before being sent to France. I am thrilled to have gotten some to share with you. Take advantage if you love vintage because some of these shapes are limited in supply. Qty of 1= 12 beads- these measure 10mm shield triangle with 2 holes. #JET114