Exhibit Antiques has dated this Scottish Silver Agate Brooch to the 1850s.
A combination of five colourful Scottish agates have been expertly carved and set flush with each other, there is raised curvature to each cabochon. The silver is mounted with a handmade scrolling c-clasp, slightly 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 large central banded agate of grey, white and clear quartz, this is a lovely example showing the central eye of a fortification and is typical of specimens found in Ethiebeaton Quarry, Monifieth, Tayside.
The two matching cabochons on each side are banded agates of salmon pink to rusty orange with white, beautiful specimens of a type native to Kinnoull Hill in Perthshire.
The last two end cabochons are both ‘Campsie’ jaspers from the Campsie Hills showing their characteristic ochre yellow mottled with deep red and black. Both colours are due to their high iron oxide content, one showing a higher hematite content producing red, and the other showing higher goethite producing the yellow ochre pigment.
Date & Origin
Scotland. Period of Queen Victoria, c1855.
Condition
Excellent. The clasp is in full working order.
Dimensions
Diameter: 6.7cm 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 Scottish Silver Agate Brooch to the 1850s.
Specialists in 18th & 19th century antique glass
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Victorian Scottish Silver & Agate Brooch c1855
