Background:
"The only fasteners to be found in situ in burials are single ring-headed pins and bow brooches, usually of iron, lying near the shoulder of both feamles and males where they functioned as modern safety-pins. Ting-headed pins, in bronze and later in iron, evolved in Britain in the eighth century BC (fig. 22). Something can be inferred about clothing from their shape and chronological evolution. The angled shank allows several thicknesses of fabric to be pleated or gathered, while the ring can be threaded with cord, tassels or braids to heighten the decorative effect. By the third century BC pins were replaced by bow brooches which were more secure and comfortable to wear. Early brooches with high, humped bows allowed several thicknesses of drapery to be secured. They were in turn superseded by variants with a flattened bow for simple flat-pinning of cloth with no pleats or gathers, which must reflect some change in the appearance of the garment." See footnote 1
"The only fasteners to be found in situ in burials are single ring-headed pins and bow brooches, usually of iron, lying near the shoulder of both feamles and males where they functioned as modern safety-pins. Ting-headed pins, in bronze and later in iron, evolved in Britain in the eighth century BC (fig. 22). Something can be inferred about clothing from their shape and chronological evolution. The angled shank allows several thicknesses of fabric to be pleated or gathered, while the ring can be threaded with cord, tassels or braids to heighten the decorative effect. By the third century BC pins were replaced by bow brooches which were more secure and comfortable to wear. Early brooches with high, humped bows allowed several thicknesses of drapery to be secured. They were in turn superseded by variants with a flattened bow for simple flat-pinning of cloth with no pleats or gathers, which must reflect some change in the appearance of the garment." See footnote 1
Figure 22 - "Swan's neck, ring-headed and involuted pins in bronze and iron were used to secure a cloak or stole at the shoulder. The globular head of one is ornamented with coral insets. Eigth - third century BC." See footnote 1
Definitions:
Convoluted - 1. coiled: twisted 2. intricate: complicated
Convolution - 1. a convoluted formation or configuration.
Involute (Latin - to enwrap) - 1. intricate: complex 2. Bot. a. having the margins rolled inward b. having whorls that obscure the axis or other volutions, as the shell of a cowry.
Ring - 1. a circular object, form, or arrangement with a vacant circular center.
Whorl - 6. a coil, curl, or convolution.
Convoluted - 1. coiled: twisted 2. intricate: complicated
Convolution - 1. a convoluted formation or configuration.
Involute (Latin - to enwrap) - 1. intricate: complex 2. Bot. a. having the margins rolled inward b. having whorls that obscure the axis or other volutions, as the shell of a cowry.
Ring - 1. a circular object, form, or arrangement with a vacant circular center.
Whorl - 6. a coil, curl, or convolution.
Materials:
Period materials would have included iron and bronze. For economic reasons and ease of material bendability, I chose to use copper wire.
Period materials would have included iron and bronze. For economic reasons and ease of material bendability, I chose to use copper wire.
Construction:
My first attempt was to coil a nice spiral. Easy you say! I tried it by putting the end of the wire in a hole, wrapping the spiral, and then cutting off the extra piece that was in the hole. I finished by sharpening the point on a river rock. It is neither a very good spiral nor very tight. My technique needs improvement and the wire is not as easy to bend as one would think.
My first attempt was to coil a nice spiral. Easy you say! I tried it by putting the end of the wire in a hole, wrapping the spiral, and then cutting off the extra piece that was in the hole. I finished by sharpening the point on a river rock. It is neither a very good spiral nor very tight. My technique needs improvement and the wire is not as easy to bend as one would think.
My second attempt was to try a ring-head. Getting the circular ring bent into a nice shape is fairly difficult. I eventually resorted to using a rod as a jig. It is still neither as perfect as those pictured nor is the shaft straight (from all the manipulation). Bonus is the hardening caused by all that manipulation. This pin I used modern sand paper to try and make a sharper point than that achieve by the river rock.
Notes:
The copper appears to be too soft to use to hold garments and still retain its shape. It is also unforgiving for mistakes made.
The copper appears to be too soft to use to hold garments and still retain its shape. It is also unforgiving for mistakes made.
Footnotes and Bibliography:
1 James, Simon & Valery Rigby, "Britain & Celtic Iron Age," British Museum Press, ©1997 p.22 (ISBN: 0-7141-2306-4)
2 "Webster's II - New Riverside University Dictionary," The Riverside Publishing Company, Boston, MA, ©1988.
1 James, Simon & Valery Rigby, "Britain & Celtic Iron Age," British Museum Press, ©1997 p.22 (ISBN: 0-7141-2306-4)
2 "Webster's II - New Riverside University Dictionary," The Riverside Publishing Company, Boston, MA, ©1988.
Figure 22
Length of longest pin 125mm (approximately 4.92-inches)
Length of longest pin 125mm (approximately 4.92-inches)
The one on the left is the first one I made and has no swan neck similar to the 2nd from left in fig 22.
The one on the right was made second. During use, I can't quite get the copper to hold the swan neck, so I will have to try a harder metal or hardening the copper more.
The one on the right was made second. During use, I can't quite get the copper to hold the swan neck, so I will have to try a harder metal or hardening the copper more.
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