The luckenbooth is a traditional Scottish love token that
was used to symbolise love and often given as a marriage or engagement gift. Most
examples include two crowned entwined hearts but some just show the one crowned
heart or the two hearts but no crown. They are sometimes set with semi precious
stones or glass.
Some think the origin of the name refers to the luckenbooths
of Edinburgh these were stalls set up on the Royal Mile that sold trinkets and
jewellery in the 16th and 17th centuries.
The brooches are heavy with romantic symbolism, two hearts
entwined, the crown of my heart, the jewel of my heart. They are also often
associated with the history of Scotland and Mary Queen of Scots.
Here are a couple of examples from the Gleaming Kist Etsy shop one has the traditional two entwined hearts, the other a single
crowned heart.
The luckenbooth symbol is now also used to illustrate wedding stationery
and other tokens of affection.
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