Luckenbooth, Mizpah & Love

From what I've been told, my heritage consists of English, Scottish and Norwegian. The evidence is certainly bountiful regarding the Norwegian heritage on my Mother's side. Both of her siblings, and ALL of their children ( and most grandchildren ) are very fair skinned, with almost white blonde hair. I got my thick dark hair and olive skin from my Father's side of the family. They are all dark haired descendants of the English, for the most part. The Scot heritage is my maternal grandmother's offering, even though her Norwegian heritage shone through most in the looks department.

I was inspired by a friend to write about a piece of jewellery that I had been given and it's significance. I went to my jewellery cabinet and retrieved a very pretty brooch I had been given by my great aunt on my mother's side. In the same small box I also found, wrapped in delicate tissue, a brooch my father had given me, which had come to me through his mother.

Until tonight, I had never really realized the significance of them both being held in the same box. Both of my Grandmothers have passed away. Both of them were incredibly special to me.

The brooch I originally went to retrieve is called a Luckenbooth. My great aunt gave it to me when I was about 11 years old. I wear it from time to time and it always makes me feel close to my maternal
grandmother. I suspect this piece is not an antique, but it holds meaning deeper because it came to me through 2 beautiful women.

Research tells me that the brooches were so called because they were sold from the locked booths on the Royal Mile adjacent to St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland as early as the 1700s. Traditionally, these brooches were exchanged at marriage, and often put away until the first child was born. Although mine doesn't have these words inscribed "of earthly joys thou art my choice", the intention of the brooch is evident.

The other brooch in my cherished collection is a Mizpah brooch. My father gave it to me several years ago, along with many of his mother's possessions. I admired it, but have never worn it because I
recognized it was an antique. I'd hate to lose it, more so because it belonged to my paternal grandmother, and perhaps her own grandmother. The original pieces date back between 1889-1925. Of course, I treasure this one not because it's antique, but because it is a part of my family. On one side of the brooch ( which appears to have been a locket at one time) it says "Mizpah", the other, engraved by hand, reads "The Lord watch between me and thee when we are absent from one another". Although used mostly in the Victorian era when lovers were separated, they reemerged during WW1 when soldiers went away to war.

Unfortunately, I don't know the full history of either brooch in my possession, but this post has inspired my father and I to find out more about the history of ownership of the Mizpah brooch. I'm very excited. It gives us a chance to delve deeper into our history, and of the women in our past.

I am intrigued that these brooches, lying together in the same box, offer the same meaning on slightly different parallels. They are very romantic symbols. One for bringing lovers together, One for keeping
lovers safe while apart.

Tonight I will go to bed feeling closer to both of my wonderful Grandmothers, whom I miss very much.