Vigo County Historical Society
Historical Treasure Article
November 13, 1988
By Barbara Carney
Vigo County Historical Society
Indians crafted jet jewelry--Queen Victoria favored black gem
A very lovely and intricately-carved jet necklace graces the neck of a mannequin on the lower floor of the museum. While the necklace is really quite beautiful, the demand for this type of jewelry has largely passed.
Jet jewelry became very popular during the Victorian period. Queen Victoria encouraged the wearing of jewelry, both by wearing it herself and giving it as presents.
She popularized jet as a mourning stone upon the death of Albert, the prince consort, in 1852. This was a blow from which she never completely recovered. For a long time, she would allow only mourning jewels of jet to be worn by the ladies who were presented at court.
Designs were at their most charming during this era. This romantic period produced beautiful, sentimental jewelry which was highly fashionable.
Jet, ivory and coral frequently were used because they made jewelry affordable to the middle class.
Jet is believe to have been used some 2,000 years ago by the American Indians. The Pueblos and Mound Builders were two tribes said to have the greatest knowledge of decorative stones.
The Pueblo Bonito ruins in New Mexico have furnished some very interesting examples of inlay by Indians of an earlier time who dwelt in this region. They frequently used combinations of jet and turquoise. Often the bodies of animal figures were made of jet and decorated with turquoise.
It is interesting to note that jet was believed to dissolve certain spells and enchantments. Burned as an incense or mixed with water and taken internally, it served as a cure for various ills.
Its fumes were said to be a cure for hysteria, and were used to fumigate bedrooms during the black plague.
When powdered and mixed with wine, jet was believed to relieve the pains of those suffering from toothaches.
The fact that this material often was used for the beads of rosaries was thought to have some connection with its supposed virtues. The idea was that the prayers counted off on jet beads might be supposed to have the power to banish the devil and his black angels.
So, this glamorous coal, actually fossilized wood, has over time, earned its place as a gemstone of prominence. Its history provides another fascinating glimpse into our past.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from l to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.