Victorian Cross
Motif Jewelry
 

Photographs from the Victorian era demonstrate how jewelry was worn, and how it related to the fashions of the time. Some pieces, like bar pins, were common accessories and can be found fairly easily today. Others, like full parures (sets of necklace, bracelet, brooch, earrings and sometimes ring) are much more difficult to obtain.

Whether a family heirloom or a recent find, Victorian jewelry continues to fascinate collectors and jewelry lovers alike. The sentiment, history, craftsmanship and whimsy lures new collectors and historians to this day. Everyday people treasured these wonderful echoes of the past, and we are fortunate that so many of them have been handed down to our generation to wear, protect and enjoy.

These ladies all share a piece of cross jewelry to accessorize their attire, and it is interesting to see how many various jewelry pieces can be fashioned using that motif.

To see jewelry with a cross motif, click here.
 

    VICTORIAN lady wearing cross pendant and cameo bar pin and earrings. Carte de viste size 2-1/2" by 4-1/4", marked on the back "Elmer & Tenney, 18 Center Street, Winona, Minn.".

   VICTORIAN lady wearing matching jet cross pendant and earrings and a black neck ribbon. Carte de viste size 2-1/2" by 4-1/4", marked on the back "Ulke Bros., No 1111 Penn. Avenue, Washington, DC, 1872" and hand written in ink "Julia, with love Judith". 
One photo expert contacted me wondering if this CDV might have been a gift to U.S. Grant's wife, Julia, as the Ulke Brothers were well known as photographers of the politically famous in Washington DC, and 1872 was the beginning of Grant's 2nd term as President.
I would love to know who she is. 

   VICTORIAN lady wearing a jet chain, cross pendant and connecting plaque. Carte de viste size 2-1/2" by 4-1/4", marked on the back C.H. Townsend, Photo-Artist, Southbridge, Mass.".

   VICTORIAN lady wearing a cross pendant, bar pin and earrings. Carte de viste size 2-1/2" by 3-5/8" with rounded corners, marked on the back "Smith" with an illustration of a statue lettered "Leatherstocking".

   VICTORIAN lady wearing ornate cross pendant on a black satin ribbon, jet ebaded collar and long oval earrings. Carte de Viste size 4-1/4" by 2-1/2", marked on the back "V. Wolfenstein, Temple Block, Los Angeles, Cal." and an ad as well as hand written ink "A Happy New Year to _illegible_ 1876." This photographer may have worked in New Mexico in the 1860s.

 VICTORIAN lady wearing a cross pendant, artificial flower pinned at her neck, and earrings. Carte de viste size 2-1/2" by 4-1/4" marked on the back "Hartley, 309 West Madison Street, Chicago" and in pencil "Addie L. Rice, married Albert H. Dec. 14th, 1871, Ashjabula, Ohio".

VICTORIAN lady with cross pendant, long chain and hair comb.

VICTORIAN lady wearing cross on a chain, onyx and seed pearls bar brooch and earrings.

VICTORIAN lady wearing a cross, bar pin and earrings.

VICTORIAN lady wearing a cross pendant. 

VICTORIAN lady wearing a cross and a long chain.

VICTORIAN lady wearing a cross pendant.

VICTORIAN lady wearing a cross brooch.

VICTORIAN lady wearing a cross on a chain.

   VICTORIAN lady wearing a cross on a chain and a buckle brooch. 
Le Rue Lemer, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

VICTORIAN lady wearing a vulcanite cross and chain.

VICTORIAN lady wearing a cross suspended from a bar pin.

VICTORIAN lady wearing a cross pendant.

VICTORIAN lady wearing a cross and a long chain.

VICTORIAN lady wearing a cross on a chain and gold earrings.
Photo by Hamor

VICTORIAN lady wearing a jet cross and a long chain.

VICTORIAN lady wearing a cross on a chain.
Barr & Hayter, Battle Creek, Michigan

VICTORIAN lady wearing a cross on a velvet ribbon, a bar pin and spectacles. 

   VICTORIAN lady wearing a vulcanite chain and cross pendant. Carte de viste marked on the front "Falor, Photo".

   VICTORIAN lady wearing a jet cross on a black velvet ribbon. Carte de viste marked on the back "L. A. Pierce, Photographer, Stanley's Block, Lima NY, negatives preserved".

VICTORIAN lady wearing a cross on a long chain at her waist.

VICTORIAN lady wearing a cross on a slide chain.

VICTORIAN vulcanite chain with highly embossed roses cross pendant, chain 30" with 1/2" round links, cross 3-1/3".   View   View   #V31854

VICTORIAN lady wearing a jet crucifix on black beads and holding a letter. Marked on the back "Photographed by A. T. Osbourne, The Portrait Studio, 312 High Street, Lincoln", this carte de viste is 2-1/2" by 4-1/8".   View

VICTORIAN karat yellow gold charm bracelet, 7-3/4" long and 1/4" wide chain with "faith, hope and love" locket compartments lined in silk 3'4: to 7/8" long, one heart-shaped and two ovals.   View   View   #V32801

  
Note: These items were photographed from private collections and are for reference only. Jewelry that is available for sale can be accessed at the links below.
 

Jewelry for sale can be accessed below.