This is a very rare (and possibly unique) piece of jewellery that was designed by Ola Gorie of Orkney.
I have never seen another piece by her with this design before and it has an early signature on it - a simple OLA mark and the word SIlver, as photographed.
She often signed her 1960s pieces Ola. The OLA mark seen on this dates to around 1959 - 1963 - and it appears only on very rare vintage pieces.
As you can see this is a stylish design and is still in lovely condition.
It has a c-ring rolled over clasped.
Ola Gore was born in Kirkwall, Orkney in 1937 and is a celebrated Scottish jewellery designer. She is considered one of the founders of the modern craft movement in Scotland. Gorie attended Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen. She left in 1960 as the first graduate of its jewellery department.
Ola Gorie returned to Orkney where three jewellery shops in Kirkwall agreed to sell her designs. Commissions for one-off pieces came from the Queen Mother, Liberty of London, the British Museum etc. I think that this unusual brooch might be one of these early commissioned pieces.
Dimensions: 5.5 cm long with a height of 3.5 cm at the widest point.
It seems to have been inspired by a Pictish stone carving known as the "Burghhead Bull". This carving was found during excavations of the Holy Well at Burghead. The stone carving is now on display in the Elgin Museum.
Given the rarity of this piece- I am having to price it accordingly - as it should really be in a museum collection or a specialist collection of early Ola Gorie Pictish-inspired pieces.
It will be sent to you in a nice black gift box.
I will cap the postage to you for this piece at £4.95 - but send it to you with Royal Mail Special Next Day Delivery with Royal Mail - so that it is fully insured in transit. This will be applied to your order at the checkout.