Coral tiara comb

A ‘crown of thorns’ coral tiara comb, circa 1860. It is tortoiseshell and set with carved corallium rubrum [precious red coral]. The coral used in Victorian jewellery came principally from the Naples area. Such was its popularity that in the 1860’s there were 82 coral carving workshops in Torre del Greco, providing employment for 4000 people. This coral tiara is 5 inches tall and 5 inches wide and in its original fitted case from the Crown Jewellers Garrard & Co.

£2200