Vintage Luckenbooth by John Fraser, Inverness

This vintage brooch, with its two interlocking hearts capped with an Inverness-style ‘spectacle’ crown, is very much following a traditional 19th century Scottish design. The reverse has a hinged steel pin and c-scroll safety clasp and is marked ‘JF’, ‘INS’, with Edinburgh hallmarks for sterling silver and 1985.

The goldsmith John Fraser must be considered the last in a line of fine Inverness makers who trained and worked within the burgh. He is also the last to use the local mark of INS. Apprenticed to Medlock & Craik, he started his business in 1960 trading as Silvercraft within the famous Market Hall. Stocking a fine range of silver and jewellery with a focus on traditional Highland ware, he also received commissions to produce various chains of office and trophies, and created special items for royalty and local dignitaries. His work can be found within the collection of Inverness Museum and Art Gallery and a biography can be found in Highland Gold & Silversmiths by GP Moss and AD Roe (1999).

Scottish heart brooches are often referred to as luckenbooths, with the name coming from the locked booths that housed the goldsmithing quarter in Edinburgh next to St Giles Kirk. The hearts are often capped with crowns, such as this example, and many  were known to have acted as betrothal and wedding gifts particularly during the eighteenth century. They were also occasionally called witches brooches as they were believed to offer protection against witchcraft.

Dimensions:

Height 6.6cm

Width 4.7cm

Weight 26.5g