In 19th century Germany , jewelry set with hart ’s dentition was incredibly popular . CalledHirschgrandln , the teeth were more often than not hunting trophy bring home and go under into silver orsometimesjewels ( or glue resemble jewel ) . Like most jewellery , Hirschgrandlnran the gamut from o.k. and expensive to more humble token .
This pendant , withstand by the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford , is an example of a type of deer ’s tooth jewelry that would have likely hung on acharivari , a string that would have been bear around the shank or on a chapeau . In improver to low hunt trophies like this silver gray - mounted pendant , thecharivari , a decorative addition to traditional Bavarian dress , could have included other amulet like coin , creature os , paws , or even image of the angel . accord to the Pitt Rivers , the amulets could have had many function , but deer ’s teeth jewelry was believed to contribute right luck in next hunt .
This humble example ofHirschgrandlnwas possibly made in Schwäbisch Gmünd , a small townsfolk in the due south of Germany highly regarded for its jewelry product , in exceptional its silverworks . After the town began produce jewellery and small silver objects in the 14th century , its silversmiths becamewell - knownfor their democratic and devotional jewellery , and sell their Creation across Europe . Asmall ring , held by Victoria & Albert in London , is another model of the cervid ’s tooth jewelry produced in Schwäbisch Gmünd . The anchor ring is an graceful direct contrast to the Pitt Rivers ’ deer tooth pendant , and the two show the mountain range of preferences that this type of jewelry could take — from the rough look of the hunter’scharivarito the elegance of a doughnut where the deer ’s tooth wait on as the central focal spot , flanked by paste .
Though jewelry set withHirschgrandlnis associated primarily with Bavaria , it was also a popular search souvenir through the Alpine part , particularly in the 19th century . The cult was imported to Britain by Queen Victoria ’s husband , Prince Albert . Albert , who was born in Germany , gifted Victoria legion pieces oftooth - set jewelry . Some of these featured the Milk River tooth of the couple ’s legion children , including a gold and enamel broochshaped into a thistle . That brooch [ PDF ] , part of the Royal Collection , sport the milk tooth of Princess Victoria in billet of a flower .
In 1860 , Albert gave Victoria an elaborated necklace made from 44 stag ’s tooth and gold tooth enamel . Theteeth were all taken fromstags hunted by Albert himself on the grounds of the royal estate Balmoral in Scotland . On each of the tooth , the appointment on which the animal was shoot down is inscribed . The clasp of the necklace sport a reminder of who did the killing : “ all shot by Albert . ” In addition to the toothy necklace , Victoria also owned another brooch and earrings also made from cervid teeth .
Victoria seemed to revalue her married man ’s gift , as well as the German style of tooth jewelry , but the trend never quite catch on in England outside of the royal household . Charivariare still worn in traditional setting , in particular in Bavaria , but the almost aggregated production of deer ’s teeth jewellery seems to have died out at the end of the 19th century .
