Exhibit Antiques has dated this Victorian Scottish Agate Brooch to the Victorian era.
A combination of five colourful Scottish agates have been expertly carved and set flush to the silver in a way that bevels the surface. The silver is mounted with a handmade scrolling c-clasp, extended pin and tube hinge. The small attachment loop is intact. Unmarked, as is the case with much of the Scottish silver jewellery produced during the mid-Victorian era.
The agates exhibited on this brooch are;
A particularly dark "classic" bloodstone to one end, the birthstone for March, Pisces. This is green jasper (chalcedony) with red hematite inclusions and showing some transparent quartz. This is likely a specimen from the west coast of Rum at Sgurr Mhor, otherwise known as Bloodstone Hill.
Next is a blue lace agate found mostly in the Montrose area, this is in the desirable waterline pattern which is when the deposits become completely parallel.
The central agate is a Campsie jasp-agate, very finely mottled yellow with reddish-brown inclusions and flashes of clear quartz spread throughout, native to central Scotland and found in the Campsie Hills north of Glasgow.
Next is a green moss agate with white and clear quartz bordering.
Lastly is a full jasper, again from the Campsie Hills showing its more characteristic ochre yellow mottled with rust red and black.
Date & Origin
Scotland. Period of Queen Victoria, c1855.
Condition
Excellent. The clasp is in full working order.
Dimensions
Diameter: 7.3cm x 2cm
Historical Context
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited Scotland in 1842 returning annually after being swept away by the charm and splendour of the Perthshire hills. The Royals' admiration towards the land and people promoted a similar reaction from their subjects.
The boom in trade between the nations saw that Scottish trinkets and motifs became very popular, especially the so-called ‘pebble jewellery’ that Queen Victoria had collected as souvenirs. The rarer Aberdeen granite may be classed as one such ‘pebble’, however, most are semi-precious chalcedony quartz gemstones that include agate and jasper, with some specimens being exclusively collected from particular regions of Scotland.
Exhibit Antiques has dated this Victorian Scottish Agate Brooch to the Victorian era.
Specialists in 18th & 19th century antique glass
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Exhibit Antiques Profile Page
Victorian Scottish Silver & Agate Brooch c1855
