Metal: 9K Gold

Chain: Vintage gold curb chain, 20” in length

Pendant: Approx. 17mm x 16mm

Stone: “Lava” (Volcano Breccia)

What You Should Know: A beautiful example of Victorian souvenir jewelry!

The word ‘souvenir’ is French for ‘to remember’. While today we might grab a t-shirt or mug while on vacation, during the Victorian era souvenirs were quite a sight. Many involved fine jewelry or exceptional pottery. Sometimes tourists even overstepped—for years visitors would take pieces of Stonehenge home as a token of their travels.

Both of these cameos are carved in volcanic breccia. The word "breccia" is Italian for "stone made of cemented gravel." This material enjoyed popularity given its association with the lost city of Pompeii, which was a common stop for travelers on a “Grand Tour” of Europe during the Victorian Era. Though the material is technically breccia, pendants like this were known as lava jewelry. Lava jewelry was easy to pack for a months-long adventure, and signaled its wearer was well-traveled and cultured.

These expertly carved cameos strike an array of cool, neutral colors. Large and in charge, they are each set in 9K gold and add up to the perfect treasure to mark an important memory or milestone.