Images(3)

Silver Mounted Granite Brooch

JewellerMade by M Rettie & Sons (Aberdeen, Scotland, 1824 - 1892)

Datec. 1850

Object NameBrooch

Mediumsilver, granite

ClassificationsJewellery

DimensionsOverall: Length: 7.6 cm, Width: 1.8 cm

AcquisitionPurchased in 1983 with assistance from the National Fund for Acquisitions.

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDAG001289

Keywords

About MeSilver and granite jewellery was made in a variety of forms – the Maltese cross, bar and oval brooches - with loops which enabled them to serve as pendant necklaces. Middleton Rettie and Sons specialised in this form, exhibiting “Gold and Silver mounted granite” at the 1851 Great Exhibition and also at the 1862 London Universal Exhibition. They employed the world famous Rubislaw Quarry granite, with its characteristic fine grey dappling, which was used to build most of Aberdeen’s celebrated grey granite buildings.

This silver mounted rounded bar brooch with gadrooned border mounting and inset with polished grey granite stone dates to around 1850.

It is marked M RETTIE/ & SONS/ ABERDEEN