Early 20th Century Scottish Thistle and Horseshoe Brooch D98

A striking Scottish good-luck design, this unusual brooch places a richly coloured thistle within a broad, frosted translucent horseshoe. Deep green serrated leaves, a red flower head and a softly tinted crown are highlighted with fine gold-tone detailing, creating an appealing stained-glass effect against the pale frame.

The horseshoe is formed from a shaped early plastic. Although the material has been tested, it has proved difficult to identify with confidence, so its exact composition remains uncertain. Celluloid became commercially successful in 1869–1870 and could be produced colourless, clear or translucent. Cellulose acetate followed during the 1890s and was also made in transparent forms. PMMA acrylic was developed in the late 1920s, with the first clear Perspex sheet produced in Britain in 1933. Other transparent moulding plastics appeared during the 1920s and 1930s, meaning the clarity of the horseshoe alone cannot securely identify or date its material.

The separately formed thistle and leaves are pressed gilt base metal with enamel-painted decoration, mechanically secured to the horseshoe by small rivets, pegs and folded fittings. The reverse has a long horizontal pin stem closing into a broad folded-over C-catch with a V-shaped entry notch. This early-style fastening and the overall construction support an early twentieth-century date, although the brooch is unmarked and neither its maker nor precise production date can be confirmed.

The thistle represents Scotland and resilience, while the upright horseshoe traditionally conveys good fortune and protection. The brooch measures 4.5 x 4 cm (1.8 x 1.6 inches). The decorative front is in excellent overall condition, with minor wear to the enamel paint on the thistle and light age-related marks and fine lines within the plastic. The pin fitting has minor rust and darkening, which has been carefully cleaned and does not affect the use of the brooch. The close-up photographs make the remaining darkening appear considerably more pronounced than it does in person. The horseshoe crystal is clear and looks darker due to the background.

A wonderfully characterful piece where Scottish pride stands safely inside a horseshoe full of good fortune. Like, share or tag someone who knows that the best lucky charms sometimes arrive with prickles.

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