Vytas Victorian Coral Pendant

This one-of-a-kind necklace is composed of:

• Victorian, 14k gold filled, dress pin featuring a small piece of coral from the late 1800s with hand embossed floral details.

• This necklace measures a standard 32” on a 14k gold filled chain. The pendant measures .75" in width

The History

Hundreds of years ago, coral was thought to be a protection against magic spells. These beliefs were especially thought of in regards to children. From Spain to Italy in historical portraits, infants are shown holding coral branches in many of their painted portraits.

Throughout the centuries, coral has held steady as a medium in jewelry. According to the book Gems and Gemstones by Lance Grande and Allison Augustyn, “The use of coral as a gemstone is an extremely ancient practice, going back at least 25,000 years. Coral has been found in ancient Egyptian tombs and prehistoric European burial sites.” Coral can be found in historic jewelry from Tibet in as early as the 17th century.

Through the 1800 and 1900s elaborate coral carvings were produced in Naples and throughout Italy. Techniques and styles from Italy spilled over to the U.S. in the late 1800s and jeweler Tiffany & Co. began using coral in their pieces.

Many coral pieces in the 1800s were created and purchased in coastal towns: only the elite, those who could afford to travel in those times, would purchase these pins as a "souvenir"--wearing them as a conversation starter and status symbol upon return home.