Sale
17232 - Scottish Sale, 18 Aug 2009 to 21 Aug 2009
Edinburgh
Lot No: 283
Of Royal Interest, a gold memorial stickpin for John Brown presented by Queen Victoria
The circular disc with a portrait in profile of Brown, flanked by the initials JB and with his date of death, 1883, beneath, the reverse with 'From VRI' in cypher, surmounting a stickpin mount, diameter 18mm, to a case retailed by Rettie & Son, Aberdeen
Sold for £5,760 inclusive of Buyer's Premium
Footnote:
Lytton Strachey's 1921 biography of Queen Victoria states that following Brown's death in 1883 '.......a Brown memorial brooch - of gold, with the late gillie's head on one side and the royal monogram on the other - was designed by Her Majesty for presentation to her Highland servants and cottagers, to be worn by them on the anniversary of his death, with a mourning scarf and pins.' The Royal Archives contain reference to items of jewellery purchased from Rettie in 1883 though unfortunately the records do not specify what those pieces were.
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