Classic Scottish Victorian "pebble" jewelry was stocked in tourist towns all over Scotland by the late the 19th c, sold as souvenirs to visitors. These pieces often paired silver with local hardstones and agates: jasper from Ayr, bloodstone from Perth, and - like in this brooch - grey granite from Aberdeen. Lapidaries were overwhelmed with the demand and outsourced some cutting and polishing work to Germany; later, English workshops in places like Birmingham also made "Scottish" jewelry for the tourist market. This one has no hallmarks, so it may have been made in Scotland. I love the softness of the bow and the hardness of the stone.
MATERIALS: sterling silver, agate
AGE: c. 1880
CONDITION: Very good
SIZE: 2" x 1 1/2"