Victorian English Crape Stone Mourning Brooch

Designed to be worn during the first stages of the mourning period, crape stone saw a brief rise in popularity in the latter half of the 19th century. This unique "stone" was developed in 1884 by the Fowler Brothers of Providence, RI, using a technique to mimic the dull, rippled folds of black crape fabric, which was commonly worn throughout the grieving process. To achieve this distinct appearance, skilled artisans would take onyx colored glass and rough up the top layer with an acid solution and then color the piece to obtain the lusterless black fabric-like resemblance. In an effort to make the jewelry appear more traditional -- and to appeal to Americans with "Victoria fever," the Fowler Brother's decided to add the word "English" to the name and thus English crape stone was born. This dusky brooch is one of the most ornate pieces of English crape stone we have ever seen. It is backed in a solid rose gold filled setting and the pin back fastens with a C catch. There is a small