THE LUCKENBOOTH BROOCH

The heart shape has long been a popular symbol in Scotland. Hearts were carved on 17th century marriage chairs and on marriage lintels. They appear on Angus spurtles and bannock spades, and on pierced iron door latches.

They have an even earlier heraldic history. The heart on the Douglas family crest goes back to the Good Sir James’ mission to the Holy Land, where he carried the heart of King Robert the Bruce.

Heart-shaped jewellery was popular in the 16th century. Mary Queen of Scots was given a heart jewel by Queen Elizabeth.  Frequently the heart or hearts were topped by a crown.

In the 18th century, designs with interlocking hearts were exchanged as love tokens. Smaller brooches were sometimes pinned to the clothes of a new-born child as a protection against evil – hence the alternative name ’witch brooch’.

The name ‘luckenbooth’ derives from the sale of this type of brooch in the lucken booths or locked shops that formerly clustered round the High Kirk of St Giles in Edinburgh.

The design of this brooch, where the crown part looks like the heads of two birds is based on an 18th century pattern introduced from Scandinavia.