Victorian Vulcanite Drop Earrings

Vulcanite - a combination of sulphur and India rubber - was developed in the mid 19th century by Charles Goodyear (the tire guy). It can be white or lots of other colors, plus it's easy to work with, so it was often used to imitate coral, tortoiseshell and jet. Especially the latter, as black mourning jewelry became more popular in the late 1800s. Vulcanite fades to a fantastic creamy brown color and smells vaguely like burning tires when you rub it. These vulcanite earrings are a hodgepodge of geometric graphic shapes, and they move fantastically when you walk.  MATERIALS: vulcanite, new 14k gold ear wires AGE: c. 1870 CONDITION: Very good - ear wires are new SIZE: 2 3/4" length measured from the top of the ear wire