Bog Oak
bog oak | ˈbȯg ˈōk
noun
Wood that was preserved over thousands of years in the bogs of Ireland, which was hard enough to be carved and worn as jewelry
Bog oak is a type of wood that has been preserved over thousands of years in Irish bogs. This type of wood can also be found in Scotland and England. Bog oak is hard enough to be carved and worn as jewelry. During the late Victorian Era from 1860 to 1890, bog oak jewelry was a popular jewelry medium to be used in mourning jewelry, which consisted of dark-colored pieces worn by women - often while mourning the deaths of their husbands or newborns. Many bog oak mourning jewelry pieces included sentimental details of the person who was being mourned, including initials or dates of birth and death that were carved into the pieces. Bog oak jewelry also became popular as everyday jewelry during the late Victorian Era because of its fashionable, dark hues. Oftentimes, bog oak jewelry was accented with gold and was carved with Irish symbols such as the shamrock.