Victorian 18ct Gold, Rock Crystal Reverse Intaglio of a Dog’s Head Tie Pin

A wonderful 18ct gold reverse intaglio rock crystal carved and painted to depict a hound with a rope twist surround. On the reverse is inscribed “From the Duchess Athole. 23 june 1860, Volt Review, W.E.”

There was a historic military assembly during the Victorian era: The Great Volunteer Review held in Hyde Park, London, on Saturday, 23 June 1860, which was attended by Anne Murray, the Duchess of Athole (Atholl).
The abbreviation “W.E.” stands for “With Evidence” or “Written Evidence” in archival or bibliographic indexing context, pointing to an annotated historical record or a newspaper archive from that exact day.
On 23 June 1860, Queen Victoria reviewed the newly formed British Volunteer Force (a citizen army of part-time rifle and artillery corps). Over 20,000 volunteers paraded through Hyde Park in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators The Duchess of Athole: Anne Murray (née Home-Drummond) served as a close friend and Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria. Court circulars from the British Newspaper Archive record her presence alongside the Royal family during this specific London visit and military review.

This tie pin was a gift from the Duchess of Athole but as to whom it was given to is unknown.