Exhibit Antiques has dated this Victorian Scottish Agate Brooch to the 1860s.
A combination of seventeen colourful Scottish gemstones have been expertly carved and set flush to the silver. Mounted with a handmade scrolling c-clasp, pin and a tube hinge. 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;
From the centre, five matching bloodstones, also known as heliotropes. This is a variety of green Jasper (opaque chalcedony quartz) with red hematite inclusions. Fine specimens exhibiting less typical yellow goethite and white quartz mottling. Native to the west coast of Rum at Sgurr Mhor, otherwise known as Bloodstone Hill.
Four ochre-yellow limonite jasp-agates exhibiting subtle red hematite and transparent quartz mottling. The colours and smooth, blended appearance indicate Bunne Anne for their origin.
Two specimens of red-hematite mottled with some minor green chlorite & two red-hematite mottled with some other more yellow iron oxides. All four are heliotropes and show a less common makeup of the Jasper variety with a more layered appearance giving the illusion of transparent areas. Most likely the two specimens with green come from the Isle of Rum and the two without showing more resemblance to Burn Anne.
Two very distinctive mottled pink/lilac specimens. A beautiful combination of white quartz and ocher-yellow iron oxide appears to blend creating a pink and lilac-hued base for the very fine speckles of red hematite; A recognisable agate which is known to be found in the Ayrshire region around Dunure.
Lastly, two banded agates of blue, white and translucent quartz with some dark linear inclusions between the ‘fortification walls’. Known as blue lace agate this is quite a subtle example with waterline banding to one and the fortification corner to the other. Scotland’s eastern hills around the inlets of the Firth of Forth to the Firth of Tay have many documented spots well-travelled by the Victorians, you can find this type of agate at Montrose, Binn Hill Quarry or Norman’s Law.
Date & Origin
Scotland. Period of Queen Victoria, c1865.
Condition
Excellent. The clasp is in full working order.
Dimensions
Diameter: 7.1cm x 3.6cm
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 1860s.
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 Jasper & Agate Braided Plaid Brooch C1865
