Luckenbooth Thistle Brooch

A luckenbooth brooch is a Scottish heart-shaped brooch. These brooches often have a crown above one heart, or two intertwined hearts. The name comes from the luckenbooths of Edinburgh where jewellery and trinkets used to be sold. A traditional Scottish love token, the Luckenbooth brooch would have been given as a betrothal or wedding brooch, from husband to wife, on their wedding day. It would then be pinned to the clothing of the couple’s first baby to ward off evil spirits and protect them from being stolen by fairies. It might be worn by a nursing mother as a charm to help her milk flow, and/or be pinned to a baby’s clothing to protect it from harm.

Scottish Thistle

Alongside tartan, the thistle is perhaps the most identifiable symbol of all things Scottish. The thistle was adopted as the Emblem of Scotland during the rein of Alexander III (1249 – 1286). Legend has it that an Army of King Haakon of Norway, intent on conquering the Scots, landed at the Coast of Largs at night to surprise the sleeping Scottish Clansmen. In order to move more stealthily under the cover of darkness, the Norsemen removed their footwear.

But something else was hiding under the cover of darkness. One of Haakon’s men unfortunately stood on one of these spiny little defenders and shrieked out in pain, alerting the Clansmen of the advancing Norsemen. Needless to say, the Scots won the day.

• Scottish Token of Love
• Sterling Silver Brooch
• Gift for a loved one, or protect your baby by warding off evil spirits (it can multitask)