Vintage Luckenbooth by Douglas J. Ewing, Edinburgh
A Scottish 9ct gold luckenbooth (heart brooch) by the Edinburgh maker Douglas J. Ewing, hallmarked Birmingham, 1992
A Scottish 9ct gold luckenbooth (heart brooch) by the Edinburgh maker Douglas J. Ewing, hallmarked Birmingham, 1992
A Scottish 9ct gold luckenbooth (heart brooch) by the Edinburgh maker Douglas J. Ewing, hallmarked Birmingham, 1992
A vintage double heart brooch surmounted with a crown. The reverse has a hinged pin and c-scroll safety clasp and is marked ‘DJE’, with Birmingham hallmarks for 9ct gold and 1992.
Scottish heart brooches are often referred to as luckenbooths, with the name coming from the locked booths that housed the goldsmithing quarter in Edinburgh next to St Giles Kirk. The hearts are often capped with crowns, such as this example, and many were known to have acted as betrothal and wedding gifts particularly during the eighteenth century. They were also occasionally called witches brooches as they were believed to offer protection against witchcraft.
Dimensions:
Height 4.5cm
Width 3.7cm
Weight 9.6g