Victorian Aluminium Bracelet

A French 19th century aluminium and gilt metal bracelet, composed of circular panels, the aluminium engraved with floral and scrolled motifs, with applied gilt metal flowers centring each, one panel suspending a similarly designed drop, to bow design connecting links, with similar engraved patterns, to box clasp, maker's mark AH, circa 1860, length 18cm, with fitted case

Aluminium was a recent discovery in the 19th century. It was, for a brief period of time, considered more expensive than gold, largely due to how difficult it was to refine the metal at the time, making it a rather novel material. It was first seen in jewellery in the 1850 as an alternative to silver, and was exhibited by a number of jewellers in the 1867 Paris Exhibition. Aluminium's status as a precious metal was fairly short lived, meaning today 19th century aluminium jewellery is relatively hard to come by.