Antique Double Heart Sterling Silver Luckenbooth Brooch

Victorian sterling silver antique Luckenbooth double heart brooch, assayed and hallmarked in Edinburgh in 1896 and made by J.M.T who was John Maitland Talbot. The brooch has been partially cleaned but not polished and is lightly and evenly toned, slightly darker to the rear than to the front. Just under an inch wide and just over a inch high. For more information about John Maitland Talbot and his connection to the Scottish Arts & Crafts Movement and the Glasgow School of Art, please see the following link. The name Luckenbooth originated from the locking booths that where close to the Cathedral and on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh in the 1700s though the origin of this design of brooch has been lost in the mists of history. The earlier design of the Luckenbooth Brooch was without a Crown and was also known as a “Witches Heart Brooch” and one supposedly given by Mary Queen of Scots to her lover Lord Darnley and some fancy that the crown to the brooch was instigated by the Queen as a stylised "M" for Mary. There are lots of tales to go with Luckenbooth brooches, some were given as a love token and a betrothal gift, or believed to evert the "evil eye", protect children from a witches influence and to help mothers milk flow.