Lot 436
A STAR OF SNOWDOUN MASONIC LADIES CHAPTER BROOCH
DATED 1859
Scottish Silver & Applied Arts | 568
Auction: 14 August 2019 at 11:00 BST
Description
the central sunburst set with a bouton pearl with three forget-me-knots in a heart shaped border with green enamel leaf detail, suspending a snowdrop flower and surmounting a coronet, the reverse engraved 'Ladies Rock' and two references EPH III 17.18, Phil IV 7 in box of issue, title inside lid of box Star of Snowdoun Sech IV 6 and Luke XI 9 dated 1859
Dimensions
90mm long
Footnote
Note: This lot has been granted a license from Scottish Natural Heritage, and it contains fresh water pearls legally taken from the wild prior to 27 March 1991.
During the 'killing times' of the 1680's many martyrs were put to death due to their religious beliefs. Margaret Wilson, her younger sister Agnes, and Margaret McLaughlin succumbed to this fate, as covenanters, as they refused to swear an oath to James VII as head of the church.
Agnes was only 12 at the time, and was spared, but is depicted in the memorial commissioned by William Drummond of Stirling in 1859. The statue depicts a guardian angel watching over Margaret Wilson reading the Bible to her younger sister, Agnes. In addition to the statue, William Drummond commissioned this brooch for all female members of his family for the inauguration of the Drummond funded Virgin Martyrs' memorial.
The brooch, heavily symbolic, with the three forget-me-nots for each woman, the pearl symbolising purity and most significantly the cross, crown and laurel leaves of martyrdom.
Two Biblical references are noted on the box and two are engraved on the brooch, Zechariah 4:6 and Luke 11:9 on the box, and Ephesians 3:17-19 and Philippians 4:7 on the reverse of the brooch. Three similar brooches can be found in the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum. See 'A History of Stirling in 100 Objects', Elspeth King, 2011.
Taken from New International Version (NIV), the biblical references are as follows;
Ephesians 3:17-19
[17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, [18] may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, [19] and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Philippians 4:7
[7] And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Zechariah 4:6
[6] So he said to me, This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty.
Luke 11:9
[9] So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.