Victorian Yellow Gold Lovers Knot Bangle

‘Knot’ jewellery, represents eternal love. Victorians were big on symbology in all areas of design, and when it came to loved ones in a family, apart from showing off financial status, a public display of high regard and love for one’s wife and daughters, was also something that was taken into account by impressionable members of society. This public display of love was commonly shown by means of symbolic jewellery. The more bedecked a woman was in ‘love’ language, the more ‘desired’ and admired she was as a myth by her community.

Circa: 1900
Design Period: Late Victorian
Motif: Lovers Knot
Material: 9ct Yellow Gold

Victorian Period (1837 - 1901):   
The Victorian Period defined by none other than Queen Victoria herself, had three stages - the Romantic, the Grand and the Aesthetic.

It was during the Romantic era that Queen Victoria married her Prince, Albert. Sentimental motifs such as; hearts, lover’s knots, flowers, bows, crescent moons and particularly serpents (which was subject to Queen Victoria’s engagement ring which represented enduring love) became extremely popular in jewellery design. Cameos, Enamelling and the use of bright coloured gemstones such as; garnets, amethysts, turquoise, pearls and diamonds gave way to the creation of jewellery that was beginning to speak a symbolic language of its own.  

The Grand era was a sombre period which saw Queen Victoria mourning the death of her beloved husband Albert. It encompassed 20 years during which time Victoria would only wear black and mourning jewellery. As a result the Whitby Jet industry flourished and onyx and deeper coloured garnets rose in popularity. Rings, lockets and brooches were commissioned with compartments for a lock of a loved one’s hair and were often engraved with the person’s name, age and date of death.  

The Aesthetic era saw a return to the light-heartedness of the Romantic Era. The discoveries being made through archaeology led to an Etruscan Revival with Greek, Roman and Renaissance influences becoming apparent in jewellery design as well as symbols of good luck and fortune.