- Material: 100% Sterling silver
- Size: About 1-1/4 inch wide x 1-1/4 inch tall (3 x 3 cm)
- Weight: 6.7 grams
- Item number: wh035
Like the wildflower it depicts, this brooch has a look that is natural and a little wild because of its asymmetry; the stalk loops and curves around dramatically from the left to the far right, making sure that the two thistle flowers are framed by spiky leaves on both sides. The two flowers, which are of slightly different sizes, are nicely detailed; their spiney surfaces are textured with a natural geometry that provides a contrast to the smooth flat and shiny surfaces of the leaves and stalk.
According to legend, Scottish Clansmen successfully fended off a nighttime sneak attack by Vikings when one of the barefoot Norse invaders stepped down hard on a spiky thistle, cried out in pain, and thereby alerted the sleeping Scots to the invasion. It has been the national flower of Scotland since at least the 15th century.
