Sweetheart brooches

[OC Richard]

I was at a loss of where to post this, as it isn't directly about kilts nor about accessories which are worn with the kilt. But it IS about something which is definately kilt-related: "sweetheart brooches".

For non-kilted British regiments these brooches (usually from the early 20th century) are rather prosaic, often being a version of the regimental badge.

But the Sweetheart Brooches of the kilted regiments are often lovely little things of curious design: they are shaped like sporrans complete with cantle but the bodies are pleated tartan, thus ingeniously combining the kilt and sporran in one.

Here is a particularly lovely example:



As you can see these often have elaborate cantles, sterling or German silver, engraved, and sometimes with stones. Usually the tartan is one of the regimental tartans, and the cantle sometimes bears a regimental badge.

I posted this because these brooches are an interesting sidelight to the kilted Scottish regiments.

[Chas]

Very interesting. All the sweetheart brooches that I have known were made by (or retailed by) Mappin and Webb. Is there a maker's mark on that one?

Regards

Chas

[Father Bill]

This is something with which I'm utterly unfamiliar. What was the provenance, use, purpose...?

[Chas]

In general a sweetheart brooch was given by a serviceman to his sweetheart before going off to war. Most were high quality and expensive.

My mother has one in the shape of an RAF officer's capbadge. It is made of silver gilt and the wings are covered in small diamonds. The 'gems' in the crown are ruby, emerald and sapphire. The whole thing is no more than 1 1/2 inches across.

The idea was that the sweetheart had something to remember him by, while he was gone and if he didn't come back.

My mother's falls into the latter category.

I believe that it was originally a French idea from the 1800s. They used to cut off one of their embossed buttons from their uniform and give it to their sweetheart. I might be totally wrong about that.

Regards

Chas

[Father Bill]

Thanks for that. I wondered if it were along those lines. Sorry for the sad family history that goes with it.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

That is quite lovely. Thanks for posting it.

[1oldsarge]

Very nice, Richard, thank you!

[OC Richard]

You're all very welcome!

Now here is a true Sweetheart Brooch, for the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.



from the Seaforth Highlanders



from the Cameron Highlanders

[cruiser348]

I had never seen one done this way for the kilted regiments. Thank you very much for sharing, very lovely.

[KiltedTrooper]

That is really cool. Thank you for sharing. Might inspire me to make something along that line for my sweetheart.