Jewellery, Objects of Vertu, Silver and Watches

A 19th century Irish gold mounted bog-oak bracelet, composed of graduated carved circular roundels, the principle roundel centred with an Irish harp, and set within an applied gold mount, with engraved chevron and strapwork detail, within an outer border of carved shamrocks, the remaining roundels of conforming design, each with further shamrock sprays, on threaded twin wire back chains, stamped ‘9ct’, length 19cm. £600-£800

The generic term bog-oak applied to oak, fir, pine and yew, wood turned black after long submersion in Irish peat bogs, and as hard as ebony. The material was freely available, the best examples coming from Meath, Tipperary, Kerry and Donegal.

It was claimed that George IV started the fashion for bog-oak ornaments with his visit to Ireland in 1821 when presented with a walking stick carved from bog-oak by a Mr McGurk. However, other craftsmen had used the material at an earlier date including John Neate and Connell, both of Killarney (Co. Kerry) who were certainly active before 1820.

Leading Dublin firms exhibited in the the Irish Industrial Exhibition of 1853, Examples incorporated the Irish harp (the national emblem) and shamrocks, both traditional devices seen in Irish jewellery.

Literature:
Bury, Shirley: Jewellery 1789-1910 The International Era Volume II, pub. ACC, 1991, pages 532-533.

One roundel with a split visible from the reverse, otherwise in very good condition, minimal wear. Gross weight 26.9gm.