Transatlantic cable memento jewellery is an exceptionally area of interest subset of vintage jewellery – and a very fascinating one!
I’m betting most of you haven’t seen certainly one of these earlier than…however don’t fear, I’m going to let you know allllllll about them.
What even is transatlantic cable memento jewellery? To adequately reply this query, we have to speak in regards to the historical past of the world’s first transatlantic cable.
For many of human existence, the one approach to talk throughout distance was to have a message delivered by hand. That’s why it was so revolutionary when the telegraph was invented within the early 1800’s: abruptly you may ship messages everywhere in the nation!
However even this miraculous know-how was restricted by the place you may lay a wire. No telegraphs might be despatched throughout the huge Atlantic ocean.
In 1853, American Cyrus West Area started elevating cash for an bold undertaking: to put the world’s first transatlantic cable between New York Metropolis and London, England. The undertaking confronted many challenges, from discovering ships and engineers for the undertaking to determining the best way to construct a cable sturdy sufficient to outlive being laid throughout the ocean flooring (see this excellent video for more details).
The primary two makes an attempt at a transatlantic cable failed, however on August 16, 1858, Queen Victoria and President James Buchanan used the finished cable to efficiently change pleasantries from throughout the Atlantic ocean.
Individuals have been so excited by this groundbreaking feat of technological accomplishment that they needed to have a good time in a time honored approach: by shopping for souvenirs!
Tiffany & Co. marketed within the New York Occasions on August 21, 1858 that they bought all the inventory of spare cable from the usNiagara, a ship that helped lay the cable, “with a purpose to place it inside attain of all courses, and that each household in the US might posses a specimen of this excellent mechanical curiosity.”
Tiffany & Co. offered hundreds of brass-bound cable samples as memento objects, however additionally they made silver dishes, strolling canes with handles created from spare cable, scrimshaw tributes, snuff bins with cable slices set into the lid – in addition to wholesaling the cable to different producers who then made their very own merchandise. You may see examples here, on this excellent website dedicated to the subject.
However in fact, our focus is on transatlantic cable memento jewellery! Distinctive and terribly uncommon, I’ve solely ever seen a number of examples nonetheless intact, and solely ever on-line…at the least till not too long ago, once I had the nice fortune to amass a bit for my very own assortment (!!!!).
Let’s take a look at a number of examples, together with my very own.
Right here’s a bit of transatlantic cable memento jewellery with a provenance as spectacular as its pretty particulars: this pendant was reportedly a Reward from Queen Victoria to Isaac Toucey, Secretary of the Navy below President James Buchanan. Toucey was the one who truly obtained the primary transatlantic telegraph despatched by Queen Victoria in 1858.
As if that weren’t cool sufficient, the pendant is thicker than most and fantastically detailed, with an anchor formed bale and an in depth hand-engraving of the usS. Niagara (one of many ships that laid the cable) on the reverse aspect.
The very best factor about this jaw-dropping treasure? It’s the one piece of transatlantic cable memento jewellery I can discover that’s at the moment accessible on the market!! Discover it at Velvet Box Society.
One other cool instance that I haven’t seen anyplace else is that this transatlantic cable memento watch key pendant. Like all of those items, it dates to the Victorian period.
I like the concept of adorning a watch key – a useful piece of jewellery used to keep up timekeeping know-how – with a slice of the primary transatlantic cable.
Due to Mouse’s Home Antiques for letting me function this treasure from their sold archive!
Right here’s a photograph that we’re very fortunate to have. This transatlantic cable memento bracelet (!!!) is the one certainly one of its variety I’ve ever seen and even heard of. A bracelet!! Are you able to even?
This magnificence belongs to Mr. Invoice Burns, the educated gentleman behind Atlantic-Cable.com, a supply I consulted a number of occasions whereas writing this text. My quest for info led me to e mail Invoice, and he very kindly provided to let me share the images of this treasure from his personal assortment with you.
This can be a very uncommon instance of Transatlantic cable memento jewellery, one that includes two slices of the cable set on opposing sides of a gold locket.
Why two slices? The outside of the locket is inscribed with two dates, they usually reply our query within the coolest approach: the primary compartment of the locket holds a slice of cable from the primary failed try at laying the cable, whereas the second compartment holds a slice of cable from the profitable completion of the undertaking.
Due to Erica Weiner for letting me function this treasure from their sold archive!
Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont. Courtesy Winterthur Museum, Backyard & Library.
Right here’s one other very excessive finish instance! This extraordinary transatlantic cable memento watch fob is at the moment within the assortment of the Winterthur Museum, Backyard & Library.
This one bears a hanging resemblance to the pendant on the market by Velvet Field Society up high, doesn’t it? It’s comparable in heft and design, and shares the twisted rope border and the anchor bale, though this piece’s bale has the extra embellishment of two shields that seem like a tribute to the US and British flags.
The Winterthur Museum credit Tiffany & Co. because the possible maker of this unsigned piece, which could be very cool. In response to the museum’s web site:
This small attraction is a memento made to commemorate the primary trans-Atlantic telegraph cable, laid in 1858. Through the autumn of that 12 months, New York and London retailers and jewelers took benefit of public fascination with the cable. They created and offered objects reminiscent of charms, candlesticks, cane handles and paperweights incorporating sections of the excess British-made cable.
Unmarked by its producer or retailer, this attraction is constructed with a gold case surrounding a cross-section slice of the florette-shape heart made by seven copper wires of the cable housed inside its pure insulator of gutta-purcha all sure inside seven-ply twists of iron wire. […] Such memento “charms” have been marketed by New York jewellery and silver service provider Tiffany & Firm for American patrons.”
This piece was a bequest of Henry Francis du Pont. Courtesy Winterthur Museum, Backyard & Library.
This silver instance is a Maltese cross brooch or medal, made in silver. Its provenance and unique function are unknown, however the entrance is inscribed “Atlantic Telegraph Agamemnon Valorous” and the again reads “Fairfield August 1858.”
This instance involves us from Bill Burns of The Atlantic Cable.
And at last, right here is my very personal piece Transatlantic cable memento jewellery!! I snapped this magnificence up the second I noticed it seem in AntiqueGemsNJewels’ Etsy shop.
My pendant is easier than a number of the exceptionally excessive finish ones we’ve checked out right now – this less complicated design in silver is the kind of memento that most individuals trying to commemorate this event would have chosen.
I particularly benefit from the chased aspect particulars on mine, which look to me like stylized acanthus leaves. I haven’t discovered the proper chain to put on it on but, however I’m having enjoyable trying.
Transatlantic cable memento jewellery from The Atlantic Cable
What do you consider this fascinating jewellery class, my darlings? Are you as enamored of it as I’m? Do any of you additionally personal certainly one of these uncommon treasures from the previous?
In the event you’ve loved this submit and need to take pleasure in pondering extra in regards to the excessive coolness of technological pioneers in undersea cable, I extremely advocate The Devil Comes Courting by Courtney Milan, a pleasant historic romance novel that tells the (fictional) love story of two folks engaged on this endeavor.
This submit comprises affiliate hyperlinks.
Transatlantic cable memento jewellery from The Atlantic Cable
Sources:
Bloomberg QuickTake. “The Undersea Cable That Linked the World.” YouTube, 16 Apr. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV0Wc9Y33so.
Burns, Invoice . “Historical past of the Atlantic Cable & Submarine Telegraphy – Souvenirs.” Atlantic-Cable.com, 2022, atlantic-cable.com/Souvenirs/index.htm#gsc.tab=0. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.
Klara, Robert. To Make Tiffany & Co. a Family Identify, the Luxurious Model’s Founder Cashed in on the Trans-Atlantic Telegraph Craze | Smithsonian, Smithsonian Journal , 15 Feb. 2024, www.smithsonianmag.com/historical past/to-make-tiffany-co-a-household-name-the-luxury-brands-founder-cashed-in-on-the-trans-atlantic-telegraph-craze-180983782/.
“Jewellery – Watch Fob (Appeal) – Search the Assortment – Winterthur Museum.” Search the Winterthur Museum Assortment, Winterthur Museum, museumcollection.winterthur.org/single-record.php?resultsperpage=40&view=catalog&srchtype=superior&hasImage=&ObjObjectName=&CreOrigin=&Earliest=&Newest=&CreCreatorLocal_tab=&materialsearch=&ObjObjectID=&ObjCategory=&DesMaterial_tab=&DesTechnique_tab=&AccCreditLineLocal=&CreMarkSignature=&recid=1959.0565&srchfld=ObjCategory&srchtxt=&id=d56d&rownum=161&model=100&src=results-imagelink. Accessed 17 Feb. 2025.
“Uncommon Victorian Transatlantic Cable Memento Pendant 14K Gold 1800s.” Mouse’s Home Antiques, mouseshouseantiques.com/merchandise/rare-victorian-transatlantic-cable-01076. Accessed 17 Feb. 2025.
“Uncommon Vintage Transatlantic Cable Pendant in Yellow Gold.” VELVET BOX SOCIETY, www.velvetboxsociety.com/retailer/p1444/rareantiquetransatlanticcablependantinyellowgold.html. Accessed 17 Feb. 2025.
“Victorian Transatlantic Telegraph Memento Locket.” Erica Weiner, www.ericaweiner.com/merchandise/victorian-transatlantic-telegraph-souvenir-locket. Accessed 17 Feb. 2025.
Steamship Historic Society. “From Telegraph to Textual content: How Undersea Cables Join Us All – Steamship Historic Society.” Steamship Historic Society, 20 Jan. 2022, shiphistory.org/2022/01/20/from-telegraph-to-text/. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.
Tiffany’s Transatlantic Cable Memento , Nationwide Museum of American Historical past, americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object/nmah_1255864. Accessed 17 Feb. 2025.
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