Scottish Jewelry

The luckenbooth dates from the late sixteenth century. It originated as a pin that merchants wore in Edinburgh along the “Royal Mile” who sold their goods out of locked booths. The pins had to be worn to show that the merchant had purchased a license to sell their goods.

The first luckenbooth brooches were very small. A tradition developed in which the luckenbooth was given to a man’s sweetheart on their betrothal. It was also considered a lucky charm, that would protect its wearer against the evil eye. Among the other powers attributed to the luckenbooth was easing the pain of childbirth and If pinned to a baby’s shawl, it will protect the child from being stolen by fairies.

During the 18th and 19th centuries the luckenbooth became larger and more elaborate often inscribed on the back with biblical quotes or the names or initials of the couple and the date of their wedding.

In the late 1800’s the intertwined hearts that form the lower half of the brooch came to resemble the letter M. Fleur de lys and thistles also became common elements. These became known as Mary’s Brooches or “Queen Mary’s Brooches”. One legend of the Luckenbooth brooch is that it was a symbol of love and devotion given by Mary Queen of Scots to Lord Darnley. Another story is that it was an engagement brooch given to her by the Dauphin of France whom she later married.