Yet another Luckenbooth Trade Silver....I think?

[Mr. Digger]

Thanks again to VMI Digger for posting his spectacular Luckenbooth Brooch Trade Silver. Be sure to check out his post...I don't want to steal his thunder! When I saw that post I realized instantly that I had found something VERY similar last year and had not even given it a second thought. I knew it was silver but had no idea of the possible age and importance of the find. I dug it in a farm field that had also produced other Colonial era relics such as my first complete 1600's spectacle buckle and a Draped Bust LC. Looking more closely at the piece now I can see it is rather crudely made and does seem old. The pin is missing, and I've never cleaned it as you can see from this pics...the dirt is still in the crevices. Any insights from the experts on exactly what I have here will be welcomed. Thanks, GL and HH!

 

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[trapperart]

Congrats on a very nice find

 

[Steve in PA]

Yes! Definitely another Lukenbooth. Great find.

 

[CASPER-2]

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Congratulations on the great find!

 

[ironhorse]

Man,those things are seemingly just flying out of the ground these days!
Nice find

 

[Muddyhandz]

Well that one is different! Never seen a "trade" brooch with that type of backing before. All the ones I have found or seen have a slot where the tongue wraps around.
I don't think it's a modern pin lever but an older version that locks into the holes.
Don't worry about stealing thunder........
It's cool that these brooches are popping up lately for COLONIAL hunters but some of us fur trade guys might have more than one thinks.
Awesome find!

 

[CRUSADER]

This is getting a bit crazy, what's that now 6!

CONGRATS

 

[Wildcat1750]

Amazingly I would never have given a such silver heart pin very much thought - They look like the little pieces of jewelry you'd find in the wood chips at a tot lot. I am learning something new each day at TNet! Glad you found yourself a Lukenbooth Trade Silver too Mr. Digger!

 

[Ahab8]

Indeed a very nice Luckenbooth brooch. If you want to clean the nooks and crannies on the front use lemon juice on a soft toothbrush. Just don't get too crazy with it or it will get shiny which you don't want. I gave mine a brief lemon juice bath as mine was quite dark. Killer piece

 

[Isaac]

Got one last year too in the fall, didn't know what it was until now. Thanks!

 

[rastinirv]

Very nice and interesting find!

 

[OutdoorAdv]

I believe the tube hinge on yours most likely dates to the mid to late 1800's. I have a few love tokens from that period with the same hinge style. I'm no expert, but yours might just be a Victorian era heart pin or brooch.

 

[MrMikeJackie]

This is getting a bit crazy, what's that now 6!

CONGRATS

Not including the two I found, that went with the 2lbs of silver jewelry to the scrap dealer. I had no idea what I had

 

[toasted]

Looks like these are not so rare or perhaps many of them are not as early as we would hope for

 

[OutdoorAdv]

Looks like these are not so rare or perhaps many of them are not as early as we would hope for

I think it's that they're being misidentified. The colonial Luckenbooth brooch like VMIDigger found, with the early clasp, is rare. But a silver heart shaped pin is not! You can still buy one like that today. So I think most of what's being found are later style heart shaped brooches.

 

[Scrappy]

I believe the tube hinge on yours most likely dates to the mid to late 1800's. I have a few love tokens from that period with the same hinge style. I'm no expert, but yours might just be a Victorian era heart pin or brooch.

View attachment 1406514

Agreed

 

[CTwoods]

Hi, I only post with info you may find interesting..

I found a similar early silver heart 15 years ago, and had some help in finally learning what "mine" was used for. The one I have does not have the crown. The crown normally shows up on the hearts that were to show love to your betrothed....as in a couple, in love.

The ones without the crown are for a different reason. As you all know, infant and child mortality was common. The heart was pinned to a newborns swaddling blanket to "protect" that infant. I've yet to see one with any sort of locking clasp like a woman's brooch, they are merely"pinned" to the swaddling cloth with the simple cross piece.


Mine was found adjacent to one of the remaining rural wooded sections of the "Connecticut Path" which was first used in 1638 by the original settlers of the Connecticut colonies of Windsor and Wethersfield, who left Newtown Mass, on a 28 day trek. The path was then used much more than a century, so mine may, or may not be related to early travelers....or know which "early"century.


Mine is my favorite lifetime find and I posted it on that favorite thread in the past. It means a lot more to me, as I think of how it was pinned to an infant, hundreds of years ago by a mother facing new-world life's challenges.

These are very special early finds in my humble opinion.


Pics below. please note that the heart was found in the open position, and the needle thick iron hinge pin crumbled as I held it. It shows a toothpick holding the crossbar. (I've since used a real pin)

 

[Mr. Digger]

Hi, I only post with info you may find interesting..

I found a similar early silver heart 15 years ago, and had some help in finally learning what "mine" was used for. The one I have does not have the crown. The crown normally shows up on the hearts that were to show love to your betrothed....as in a couple, in love.

The ones without the crown are for a different reason. As you all know, infant and child mortality was common. The heart was pinned to a newborns swaddling blanket to "protect" that infant. I've yet to see one with any sort of locking clasp like a woman's brooch, they are merely"pinned" to the swaddling cloth with the simple cross piece.


Mine was found adjacent to one of the remaining rural wooded sections of the "Connecticut Path" which was first used in 1638 by the original settlers of the Connecticut colonies of Windsor and Wethersfield, who left Newtown Mass, on a 28 day trek. The path was then used much more than a century, so mine may, or may not be related to early travelers....or know which "early"century.


Mine is my favorite lifetime find and I posted it on that favorite thread in the past. It means a lot more to me, as I think of how it was pinned to an infant, hundreds of years ago by a mother facing new-world life's challenges.

These are very special early finds in my humble opinion.


Pics below. please note that the heart was found in the open position, and the needle thick iron hinge pin crumbled as I held it. It shows a toothpick holding the crossbar. (I've since used a real pin)

Thanks for the info, CTwoods....and to everyone else as well for their posts and inputs. This is a great forum and I knew I would learn a great deal by posting my find. I concede that it is unlikely to be a old enough (or in the style) to be trade silver but I'm glad to learn it may have some age to it and the special meaning of the piece as highlight by CTwoods is fascinating. Thanks all.

 

[CTwoods]

but I'm glad to learn it may have some age to it and the special meaning of the piece .

I certainly feel it is of colonial age or darn close. I am pretty excited to see one found in Mass. If you recall the old Treasure Depot, there was a guy from Salem Mass, name Scott. Back when I posted mine there, Scott claimed his silver knee buckle made in Boston, has to be the same silversmith that made mine. He did post a pic, but I'm no expert on such tiny hand tooled impressions on both pieces.

I hope you find time to try to learn more about Mass silver, and perhaps a way to compare hand work on early silver items. (and share what you find out)

Just imagine how concerned a Mother with a newborn was, back then. I would have to think the same heart was used on each newborn she had. Just think about that... .... Very fascinating Mass/New England history you saved from the soil. Congrats


EDIT to add:

I forgot to give the actual name of these. Witch's Heart

website:
http://www.bmjnyc.com/blogs/blog/52481349-witch-s-heart-jewelry-and-other-antique-heart-jewels

From there:

"A variation on the Georgian open heart brooch was the witch’s heart. In these pieces, the tail of the heart twist to one direction (usually the right). This style gained popularity in Scotland in the 17th century and was named “Luckenbooth” after the closed booths in Edinburgh where they were sold. Witch’s hearts were initially worn to protect loved ones from evil spirits. Tiny witch’s hearts were pinned to baby’s blankets to ward off dark forces."

And:

"By the 18th century, the witch’s heart took on a new meaning. Lovers gifted each other with witch’s hearts as love token to symbolize that they’d been “bewitched” with love. There were typically made with garnets and often crowned (a symbol of loyalty). Double-hearted witch’s hearts symbolized serious commitment, like betrothal or marriage."