The Duke of Atholl was the only man in Britain allowed to raise a private army, so this might well be for his unit. However, other members of his clan/family would have been entitled to wear this.

The Duke of Atholl was the only man in Britain allowed to raise a private army, so this might well be for his unit. However, other members of his clan/family would have been entitled to wear this.

These brooches were originally made in Scotland in the 17th century and the style continued almost unchanged to the end of the 19th century, so they are hard to date accurately. However, the style of the hinge and the provision of a loop for a safety chain all point to a later date, unless this is an early brooch that has been remounted later.