Thoughts on Ancient Irish
Accessories:
what was available
styles/decoration
how I think they were used
sources
what was available
An amazing array of bronze, gold, silver, iron, etc.
fasteners, brooches, pins, button-like fasteners, and various other accessories
have been found at some of the most ancient European and Irish sites.
styles/decoration
Typical motifs included stylized animals or plants
of various sorts. Occassionally a stylized human face or form might
appear. Geometric or non-representational knotwork designs were also popular.
how I think they were used
It's not completely clear how all thse were used,
but there certianly were lots of options available for the fastening of
cloth, hair or other materials about the person.
See "Putting
it all Together" and the page on the brat
for more clues on how the accessories and cloth interacted...
sources
I've found pennumbular brooches in various places--beware
pseudo-pennumbulars, though! They won't help you much. Ren-Faires and Celtic,
Irish or Highland festivals are good bets. As are some Pagan or Occult
stores.
A man in one of the Mid-Atlantic states here in the
U.S. is making reproductions of Celtic metal accessories found in Halstat
and later graves. He uses the business name of "Crafty Celt" and various
vendors at festivals might carry his stuff. Sorry, no URL on him
yet (I'm working on it!!).
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© 1997 Robin A. NíDána
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