3-039-089 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Princess Louise's wedding gifts: the Brooch of Lorne, 1871. Royal wedding of Princess Louise (fourth daughter of Queen Victoria) and her husband John Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll. '...the famous "Brooch of Lorne," a jewel of much historic and romantic interest...[is made] of silver set with pearls. It consists of a circular plate, 4 in. in diameter, with a buckle on the under side. The upper side has a rim indented with battlements, like the wall around a fortress, within which rise eight round projections, an inch and a quarter high, probably intended to represent the towers inclosed by the wall. Each of these is surmounted with a Scottish river pearl. A second rim or inner wall, ornamentally carved, surrounds an eminence of circular form, but moulded into eight semi-cylinders. It is the "keep" of the castle, which stands higher than the eight outer towers. This is hollow, forming a case or locket to hold any small article of value. Its cover is elegantly adorned with a large gem on the summit. The brooch was that which fastened the plaid of Robert Bruce, crowned King of Scotland in 1306, when he was driven by the English forces into the west country'. From "Illustrated London News", 1871.