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Curious Objects: Grouse Claw Kilt Pins
When I acquired my first bird foot brooch, I had no idea that it was a grouse claw kilt pin. I was looking for unusual jewellery, Victorian and very gothic looking, it was perfect for my Curiosity Shop. Having little knowledge about birds and their anatomy, my brooch looked to me as though it came from a crow or a raven. It wasn’t until much later that I discovered which bird these strange feet belonged to and the history of these unusual pins or brooches. The History of Grouse Claw Kilt Pins Grouse Grouse are galliformes, a type of ground bird in the same family as chickens. There are four…