Gleninsheen Gorget

Gleninsheen Gorget  c. 800-700 B.C.

The gorget was found in the Burren, Co. Clare. It can now be viewed at the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.

Form
U shaped piece of gold with two gold discs at either end
Gold discs attached using gold thread
Elaborately decorated with various textures

Function
A semi-circular collar
Worn around the neck as a symbol of high status
Probably reserved for ceremonial purposes
Fastened around the back of the neck with a cord

Decoration
Combination of incised and repousse patterns
The crescent shaped body of the collar is decorated with rows of repoussé which are alternately smooth and cord patterned
Each disc is decorated with eleven incised concentric circles surrounding a cone
Rows of repoussé beads also adorn the gorget

 

Repoussé technique

A metalwork technique used to   create a raised pattern on the surface of the metal. The pattern or design is created by hammering or pressing into the back of the metal with various implements. The metal is often heated first in order to make it more malleable.  Repoussé means “pushed up” in French.

 

Incising technique

Incising is the scratching of a design or pattern into the surface of the metal using a sharp tool. The lines can vary in width and depth. It is more commonly referred to as engraving.

 

Questions

Do you think the Gorget was worn by a man or a woman during the Bronze Age?

How do people in the 21^st century dress in order to highlight their status?

Can you think of any figure that wears elaborate adornments like this in order to show off their wealth or power?

Has Bronze Age metalwork inspired any contemporary designs or high street fashion statements?

 

Suggested Projects

1. Design a contemporary accessory using the Gleninsheen Gorget (or any other piece of Bronze Age metalwork) as your starting point.

Consider and make drawings of the various elements (line, shape, form, texture, pattern and colour).

Use these drawings to inform your new design.

2. Create a Bronze Age pattern using a variety of the repoussé and incising techniques.

Materials: Thin aluminium/copper sheets, repoussé tools (sharp pencil, top of a bic pen, chicken skewer, cocktail stick), and incision tools (scalpel, compass)