Victorian era jewellery made from lava rock / lava stone

The use of lava stone in cameos and other jewellery dates back to ancient times. The ancient Greeks and Romans were known to use lava stone in their jewellery, particularly in the creation of cameos. Lava stone, also known as basalt, is formed from the solidification of molten lava. It is a hard, dense rock that is durable and capable of holding fine details. The black and grey colour of the stone provides an excellent contrast for carving designs and portraits.

The ancient Greeks and Romans would carve images into the lava stone using sharp tools. The raised areas of the design would be polished, while the background was left rough. This technique, known as "intaglio," was used to create intricate designs and portraits. The resulting cameos were often mounted in gold or silver settings and worn as jewellery.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, cameos made from lava stone more... became popular in Europe. Wealthy travellers on the Grand Tour would bring back souvenir cameos from Italy, where they were produced using the volcanic stone from Mount Vesuvius. The stone's association with the volcanic activity of the region added to its allure and made it a desirable material for jewellery.

In the mid-19th century, a new technique for creating cameos from lava stone was developed. Rather than carving the design into the stone, the image was transferred onto the stone using a chemical process. This allowed for greater precision and detail in the design and made it possible to create multiple copies of the same image.

Today, lava stone is still used in the creation of cameos and other jewellery. The stone's unique texture and durability make it a popular material for modern designers. Additionally, the stone's association with volcanic activity adds a sense of drama and mystique to the jewellery. less...