Brooch
14/10/1865 (design), ca. 1865 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This 'Scottish pebble' brooch was actually made in Birmingham. The design was registered by the firm of James Fenton on the 14th of October 1865. Fenton made little attempt to be archaelogically correct and some of the jewellery evokes a Scottish association only through the use of the stone settings or 'pebbles'.
In the early years of the 19th century, the poetry and novels of Sir Walter Scott put Scotland on the tourist map. Royal favour confirmed this as Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were devoted to Scotland and built Balmoral Castle as a holiday home. Scottish pebble jewellery, already fashionable in the 18th century, became a popular souvenir. ‘Rough and valueless as many of these gems appear when found on the mountainside, in the river bed or on the sea-shore, their beauties shine out pleasantly when cut by the lapidary and polished by his wheels and diamond dust and arranged in order of their colours and set in gold or silver.’ claimed the Jeweller and Fancy Trades Advertiser in 1868.
In the early years of the 19th century, the poetry and novels of Sir Walter Scott put Scotland on the tourist map. Royal favour confirmed this as Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were devoted to Scotland and built Balmoral Castle as a holiday home. Scottish pebble jewellery, already fashionable in the 18th century, became a popular souvenir. ‘Rough and valueless as many of these gems appear when found on the mountainside, in the river bed or on the sea-shore, their beauties shine out pleasantly when cut by the lapidary and polished by his wheels and diamond dust and arranged in order of their colours and set in gold or silver.’ claimed the Jeweller and Fancy Trades Advertiser in 1868.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver set with 'Scottish pebbles' |
| Brief description | Brooch, England, Birmingham, design registered 1865; made by James Fenton. Silver, with granite |
| Physical description | England, Birmingham, design registered 1865; made by James Fenton. Silver, with granite ('Scottish pebbles') |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | (Registry mark on the back shows that the design was registered on 14 October 1865 by James Fenton, a Birmingham manufacturer.) |
| Summary | This 'Scottish pebble' brooch was actually made in Birmingham. The design was registered by the firm of James Fenton on the 14th of October 1865. Fenton made little attempt to be archaelogically correct and some of the jewellery evokes a Scottish association only through the use of the stone settings or 'pebbles'. In the early years of the 19th century, the poetry and novels of Sir Walter Scott put Scotland on the tourist map. Royal favour confirmed this as Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were devoted to Scotland and built Balmoral Castle as a holiday home. Scottish pebble jewellery, already fashionable in the 18th century, became a popular souvenir. ‘Rough and valueless as many of these gems appear when found on the mountainside, in the river bed or on the sea-shore, their beauties shine out pleasantly when cut by the lapidary and polished by his wheels and diamond dust and arranged in order of their colours and set in gold or silver.’ claimed the Jeweller and Fancy Trades Advertiser in 1868. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.278-1961 |
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| Record created | January 10, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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