i got these loose charmingly carved Victorian Whitby Jet beads in graduated sizes this morning (and since there was a lot of interest here recently i propose to make them available individually for purchase).
in my book the Bead Jewellery book on p 23 the same popular "Rose and Fern" pattern is illustrated.
they were produced from the jet that was found particularly in Whitby on the north east coast of Yorkshire, Great Britain, where there were small industries and workshops cutting, shaping and carving.