Brooch thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Brooch

1750-1800 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The ring brooch was the most important piece of jewellery in Norwegian traditional dress. There are well over 50 different names for brooches in Norwegian, and each kind of brooch has its own distinctive name, some of which date back to the Middle Ages. Ring brooches differ from modern brooches in the way they fasten. The wearer pulls the cloth of the garment through the central hole, and then spears it with the pin. The greater the strain on the pin, the more secure the fastening.

A bolesølje is a large ring brooch decorated with six raised circular mounts. It takes its name from a medieval cylindrical box, called a bole. It is unique to Norway. Brooches like this were always expensive, because of their size and weight. In the 18th century they were usually cast, but by the 19th century most were made of filigree. Bolesøljer mainly come from the south of Norway.

This brooch is decorated with alternating lions and griffins on the raised cylinders. This design originally had crowned heads, representing St Olav, between the cylinders, but these deteriorated over time until they were reduced to the anonymous domes on this example. There is a small Madonna and Child on the pin.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silver gilt
Brief description
Silver gilt ring brooch (bolesølje) with heraldic creatures, and the Virgin and Child on the tang, Norway, 1750-1800.
Physical description
Large ring brooch of flat sheet silver, gilded on the front. It is decorated with six raised cylinders, which each has an heraldic creature, alternating lions and griffins, on its front. Between the cylinders are rows of domes. The tang is fastened into a hole on the inner rim, and is decorated with an applied figure, probably that of the Virgin and Child.
Dimensions
  • Height: 0.8cm
  • Diameter: 8.9cm
Subjects depicted
Summary
The ring brooch was the most important piece of jewellery in Norwegian traditional dress. There are well over 50 different names for brooches in Norwegian, and each kind of brooch has its own distinctive name, some of which date back to the Middle Ages. Ring brooches differ from modern brooches in the way they fasten. The wearer pulls the cloth of the garment through the central hole, and then spears it with the pin. The greater the strain on the pin, the more secure the fastening.

A bolesølje is a large ring brooch decorated with six raised circular mounts. It takes its name from a medieval cylindrical box, called a bole. It is unique to Norway. Brooches like this were always expensive, because of their size and weight. In the 18th century they were usually cast, but by the 19th century most were made of filigree. Bolesøljer mainly come from the south of Norway.

This brooch is decorated with alternating lions and griffins on the raised cylinders. This design originally had crowned heads, representing St Olav, between the cylinders, but these deteriorated over time until they were reduced to the anonymous domes on this example. There is a small Madonna and Child on the pin.
Collection
Accession number
371-1907

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Record createdNovember 1, 2005
Record URL
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