This Brass Celtic era Jewelry is cast in SOLID BRASS with a matching movable cast pin. It is an extremely popular and attractive means of fastening two pieces of cloth together at the shoulder. With it's handsome bright finish on both the ring and the pin, it will be an attractive adornment to any period garment.
Measures 1 7/8 inches across the outside of the oval and 1 3/4 inches deep. The Pin is just shy of 3 inches. Weight is 1.1 oz (30 g)
Historical reference: This piece is based on the find listed in the PAS database, Roman period - Lincolnshire. It is a Fowler Type C.The Celtic brooch, more properly called the penannular brooch, is a type of clothes fasteners. They are especially associated with the beginning of the Early Medieval
period in Ireland and Britain, although they are found in other times
and places—for example, forming part of traditional female dress in
areas in modern North Africa.
Beginning as utilitarian fasteners in the Iron Age and Roman period, they are especially associated with the highly ornate brooches produced in precious metal for the elites of Ireland and Scotland
from about 700 to 900, which are popularly known as Celtic brooches or
similar terms. They are the most significant objects in high-quality
secular metalwork from Early Medieval Celtic art, or Insular art, as art historians prefer to call it. The type continued in simpler forms such as the thistle brooch into the 11th century, during what is often known as the Viking Age in Ireland and Scotland.
Penannular brooches feature a long pin
attached by its head to a ring; the pin can move freely around the ring
as far as the terminals, which are close together. In the true
penannular type, there is a gap between the
terminals wide enough for the pin to pass through. The
penannular type is a simple and efficient way of fastening loosely
woven cloth where the pin will not leave a permanent hole. How to use a penannular brooch
|
![How to use a penannular brooch](https://www.craftycelts.com/images/brinst1.gif) |
![flip the brooch ring](https://www.craftycelts.com/images/brinst3.gif) |
![turn the penannular ring](https://www.craftycelts.com/images/brinst2.gif) |
Pierce the material with the pin | 2. Flip the ring | 3. Turn the ring |
The brooches were worn by both men and women, usually singly at the
shoulder by men and on the breast by women, and with the pin pointing
up; an Irish law code says that in the event of injury from a pin to
another person, the wearer is not at fault if the pin did not project
too far and the brooch was worn in these ways by the sexes.
The most elaborate examples were clearly significant expressions of
status at the top of society, which were also worn by clergy, at least
in Ireland, though probably to fasten copes and other vestments rather than as everyday wear. The Senchas Mhor, an early Irish law tract, specified that the sons of major kings, when being fostered, should have "brooches of gold having crystal inserted in them", while the sons of minor kings need wear only silver brooches.
(These make great medieval/renaissance gifts...)
Satisfaction policy - Your happiness with our products is a top priority. See our feedback and know that this represents our sincere commitment to our customers. Please contact us if you have any problem with what we've sent. The deal's not done till everyone leaves smiling. A note on handling time: We generally ship in just a few days. However there are periods in the armor cycle when we are at week long events or getting mobbed that it may take longer. We guarantee that your armor will be shipped in the time-line set in the auction if not sooner. Please let us know if you are in urgent need by a specific date and we'll do our very best to accommodate your schedule.
We guarantee satisfaction on all of our gear, HOWEVER we do not guarantee the safety of the user. Pins are sharp. We therefore caution against the use of this item for any other purpose than a novelty historical piece by an adult.
Custom works happily considered for belts, shields or body armor. For more detail on what we can do visit Dark Victory Armory on Facebook or the web.
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