Child's Ring brooch

A typical child's ring-brooch, popular in the 13th and 14th centuries - this is a common type made in copper alloy, for either a child or poorer person, while the gold ring-brooch in the Waterford collection is the deluxe end of the market. The 13th century pedlar in an anonymous French poem also offers little brooches of gilt brass, pewter brooches for children. The oblong head on the pin indicates a late 13th century date. Such brooches were not just decorative but were used as dress fasteners at the neck.

Child

A typical child

Child

A typical child

Enlarge image

date/period: c.1250 A.D./Anglo-Norman

inventory no.: 1999.493

collection: Waterford City Council

location: Waterford Museum of Treasures exhibition

dimensions: 20 mm diameter

provenance: Found in excavations of Waterford city centre 1986-1992

material: copper alloy

Further Reading:

Late Viking Age & Medieval Waterford Excavations 1986-1992. ISBN 1 872002 98 6

Related items:

Waterford kite brooch

The Waterford Kite Brooch

Made of a hollow cast silver box and decorated with sumptuous gold filigree, impressed gold foil, amethyst-coloured cabochon glass studs and niello, it was made to close a cloak and had a long pin on the back; the hinge and short section of the pin remain.
Waterford ring brooch

The Waterford Gold Ring Brooch

This brooch is decorated with finely corded rims soldered to the outer and inner edges; on it are set four simple tubular collets filled with two blue and two green glass stones, almost certainly thought by the wearer and perhaps by the jeweller to be precious stones. Between the collets is filigree scroll-work applied in relief, formed by thin metal walls inset with a corded wire. The curling ends and significant points of the scroll-work are set with tiny balls of gold.