A RARE NATIVE SCOTTISH GOLD AND CAIRNGORM BROOCH CIRCA 1870, POSSIBLY GLASGOW OR INVERNESS the scalloped circular frame with engraved foliate scrolls on matted back ground, centrally set within a raised claw setting with a round cut 'Cairngorm', the reverse inscribed ‘KILDONAN 1869’, hinged pin and safety catch (4.2cm diameter ) Footnote: Note: Although there is much Scottish gold jewellery made and surviving from as early as c1700, very little has been recorded which can be proven to come from natively sourced Scottish gold. While native gold has been mined and sourced for centuries in Scotland it was more commonly found as a by-product of other mining activities, notably lead. Except in the few rare occasions of miniature gold rushes in Scotland such as Kildonan in 1818 and again in 1868. It was reported by the Inverness Courier in 1869 that ‘Messrs D. C. Rait and Sons, of Buchanan Street, Glasgow, have been active purchasers of Sutherland gold from the commencement of the discovery, and have assayed several specimens officially. These have ranged from 19 to 19¾ carats. Mr Robert Gilchrist, the original discoverer, seems to have been very successful of late at the Kildonan burn’. The amounts of Scottish gold available for work were however rare, rarer still are examples noted and sold as such like this example. Various pieces by Glasgow companies, D C Rait and Muirhead & Sons, as well as Inverness makers have been noted. These generally follow the interest in native materials by combining the gold with other materials synonymous with Scotland such as freshwater pearls and Cairngorm stones. This fitted perfectly into the wider Scottish historical and national revival started as early as George IV’s visit in 1822 and continued with the Royal purchase of Balmoral and beyond into the early 1900’s. Pieces of native Scottish gold feature in the collections of both the National Museum of Scotland and Kelvingrove Museum & Art Gallery but seldom are seen at auction.