Victorian Sterling Silver-Mounted Slate Backed Scottish Agate Brooch

Set in Sterling, this substantial Scottish brooch is set with four colors of agate native to Scotland. Fine Scottish jewelry makers mastered the stone...

Undulating swirls of agate in mellow colors are cut and polished, then set in silver. Texture and softness were created by the jeweler with his choice of patterned agates as well as his ability to sculpt the stone. The pink agates are not frequently seen in scottish 19th century jewelry. Here they beautifully punctuate the horizontal plane. All of the workmanship was performed by hand Scottish jewelry, as well as Scottish tradition, were brought to the forefront during the second half of the 19th century because Queen Victorian and Prince Albert were deeply involved with and romanced Scottish tradition. At their privately owned castle Balmoral they dressed in Scottish clothing and wore Scottish jewelry. Their dedication brought Scottish agate...