This ancient-looking crowned heart is a traditional Scottish jewel that has similarities to Norwegian jewelry of the same period: it shows how closely their history and geography are joined. The V & A Museum in London has a Scottish Luckenbooth brooch in their collection. Their description says:
“Heart brooches are one of the commonest surviving types of Scottish traditional brooch. They are sometimes called luckenbooth brooches, after the stalls round St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, where they were sold in the 19th century. They are also known as witches’ brooches. Small heart brooches were often fastened in children’s clothing for ‘averting the evil eye and keeping away witches’. Mothers also wore them to prevent the witches from stealing their milk. They were frequently given as love tokens. Women wore them at the neck of their shift to close the front opening.”
This is an early example, and fastens like an ancient roman toga pin / annular brooch. On the back is stamped with the mark of Alexander Shirras, who worked in the Scottish town of Banff from 1755 - 1761. He was considered a hammerman: The Incorporation of Hammermen was one of the six Incorporated Trades of Banff (the other five were: Wrights, Coopers, Shoemakers, Tailors, and Weavers).
MATERIALS: silver
AGE: c. 1750
CONDITION: Very good - AS (Alexander Shirras) maker's mark
SIZE: 2 1/4" x 1 1/4"