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This early Victorian brooch, with its two interlocking hearts capped with an Inverness-style ‘spectacle’ crown, is very much of a traditional nineteenth century Scottish design. The front has also been finely engraved. The reverse has a hinged steel pin and clasp, and is marked ‘D.C.R’ for David Crichton Rait with Glasgow hallmarks for sterling silver and 1845.
The goldsmith David Crichton Rait is first mentioned in 1828 as a merchant and jeweller with premises in Argyll Street, Glasgow. He is later recorded at 34 Buchanan Street with the prestigious title of ‘Goldsmith To The Queen’.
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 5.6cm
Width 4cm
Weight 11.2g