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A vintage heart brooch with two interlocking hearts surmounted with a crown. The reverse has a hinged pin and c-scroll safety clasp and is marked with Edinburgh hallmarks for sterling silver. Unfortunately, the maker’s mark and date letter are indistinct due to being struck on a textured surface, however, the overall style and production of this piece dates it to c.1960-80s.
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 5.1m
Width 3.5cm
Weight 15.3g