Ancient times...

To remain in ancient times...

This is a copper brooch I made recently, inspired by medieval penannular (can you say: pennanular?) brooches that were worn just about all over Europe in the Middle Ages. They were very popular in the first centuries AD in Ireland. Pennanular means 'almost round'. The design is as simple as it is brilliant: you stick the pin through the fabric, push it through the opening and turn the brooch, and it is caught in the fabric safe and sound!

I love the curvy lines, and the way the whole shape reminds me of the Vescia Pisces and a bow and arrow...

This is a commission piece, but I'm soreley tempted to keep it for myself! ;-)

Celtic Inspiration

This weekend I was inspired by the Dutch Celts!

These grave goods from Drente in the Netherlands are on display in the 'Hunebed Centrum' in Borger: gold and silver torcs, amber necklaces found in graves from around 450 BC...

The craftmanship is amazing, especially considering they were made about 2500 years ago.

I wonder what they will inspire me to make next.
Click on the pictures to see them in detail!

The funny thing was, that the dolls in the Celtic exhibition wore exactly the same moccasins I bought at www.medievalmoccassins.com in California some weeks ago...small world!