A brooch presented to the first passenger aboard a doomed steamship more than 130 years ago has been discovered during a vintage valuation event.
The remarkable piece of jewellery offers a direct link to one of Scotland’s most influential shipping pioneers and a vessel whose story ended in tragedy decades later.
The brooch surfaced at a WeBuyVintage roadshow in Fleetwood, Lancashire, after being brought in by a man who said it had been passed down through his late wife’s family.
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Experts quickly realised the item was far more than a decorative keepsake.
An inscription on the reverse revealed it had been presented on 21 April 1894 to Elizabeth McIntyre Anderson, believed to have been the first passenger carried aboard the SS Citrine on its maiden voyage, as reported by Need To Know.
The engraving reads: “SS Citrine, 21st April 1894, Elizabeth McIntyre Anderson, from WM Robertson.”
The gift came from shipping magnate William Robertson, one of the most significant figures in Scottish maritime history.
Robertson built the Glasgow-based Gem Line from a single barge in 1852 into one of Britain’s largest coastal shipping fleets.
His vessels transported coal, limestone, ore and other cargo around Scotland, the UK and northern Europe, helping modernise coastal trade during the Victorian era.
The SS Citrine was built in Dundee by W. B. Thompson & Co and became part of Robertson’s gemstone-themed fleet.
The brooch itself reflects the ship’s name and heritage.
Designed in a gold tone, it features rope-style detailing around the edges and a central lifesaver motif set with a citrine stone.
While the vessel began its career amid celebration, it would later meet a devastating end.
On 17 March 1931, the SS Citrine struck rocks at Bradda Head near Port Erin during a routine voyage.
The ship sank and nine of its 11 crew members lost their lives.
Contemporary reports described darkness, rough weather and confusion as the vessel went down.
By then, Robertson had been dead for 12 years, although the business remained in family hands.
The brooch was valued at a modest £100, with its owner hoping to use the proceeds from any sale to help upgrade his motorhome.
But experts say its historical importance far outweighs its monetary value.
WeBuyVintage specialist Matt Case said: “While the value of the brooch is low in monetary terms, it is far more than just a piece of decorative jewellery.
“It is a rare and poignant survivor of Scotland’s maritime history.
“Connected to a specific ship, a named recipient, a launch date and ultimately a vessel lost in an infamous wreck, it provides an extraordinary link between Dundee craftsmanship, Glasgow’s commercial ambition and the human story behind one of the nation’s lost steamers.”
The discovery also shines a spotlight on the Dundee shipyard that built the vessel, W. B. Thompson & Co, which later evolved into the renowned Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company.
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