Brooch of Lorn

The brooch is centred on a large quartz charmstone, and it is not implausible that this stone had belonged to the Bruce; it also acted as a reliquary.

Underneath the central stone is an empty compartment (said in 1905 to contain fragments of human bone),[8] probably designed to hold a relic; the stone is set well above the base disc, and is surrounded by eight detached chatons or turrets, about 1.25 inches high, and each topped by a Scottish freshwater pearl.

[11] David Caldwell, curator of the Scottish medieval collections at the National Museums of Scotland, is quoted as saying, "It is a very important piece of west Highland art, but it dates from the mid-15th century, so cannot be Bruce’s.

[13] In 1306 the Battle of Dalrigh took place where Robert the Bruce of Scotland was ambushed by John of Argyll, chief of the Clan MacDougall.

[1][2] It was hidden until the early 19th century when it was found in a chest by Major Campbell of Bragleen after his return from fighting in the Napoleonic Wars.

Queen Victoria viewed the brooch during a visit with the MacDougall clan chief in 1842, taking it in her hand and examining it closely.