Plaid Brooch
ca. 1650 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The traditional jewellery of Norway and Scotland shows the strong historic and geographic links between the two countries.
In both places the ring brooch is the most distinctive item. Ring brooches can be circular or heart-shaped, and their design dates from the Middle Ages. They 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 plaid was originally a length of woollen material worn in the Highland region of Scotland. The men kilted it round their waist and then threw the end over the shoulder, in a similar way to an Indian sari. Women wore it round their shoulders as a blanket or shawl. The plaid brooch was worn by women to fasten the two sides of the shawl together at the front. As the plaid was made of thick woven material, plaid brooches are usually large and strong.
The shape of this brooch is typical of Scottish highland plaid brooches of the 17th and 18th centuries. The brooch is unmarked, apart from the owner’s initials IMD engraved on the back.
In both places the ring brooch is the most distinctive item. Ring brooches can be circular or heart-shaped, and their design dates from the Middle Ages. They 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 plaid was originally a length of woollen material worn in the Highland region of Scotland. The men kilted it round their waist and then threw the end over the shoulder, in a similar way to an Indian sari. Women wore it round their shoulders as a blanket or shawl. The plaid brooch was worn by women to fasten the two sides of the shawl together at the front. As the plaid was made of thick woven material, plaid brooches are usually large and strong.
The shape of this brooch is typical of Scottish highland plaid brooches of the 17th and 18th centuries. The brooch is unmarked, apart from the owner’s initials IMD engraved on the back.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Engraved silver |
| Brief description | Silver plaid brooch, Scotland, probably mid 17th century. |
| Physical description | Circular ring brooch of flat sheet silver, with overall engraved floral pattern. Tang secured on a bar recesssed into the width of the ring. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | 'IMD' (Scratched on back of ring.)
|
| Credit line | Given by Dame Joan Evans |
| Object history | This type of brooch was generally worn b y women. |
| Production | Worn by women |
| Summary | The traditional jewellery of Norway and Scotland shows the strong historic and geographic links between the two countries. In both places the ring brooch is the most distinctive item. Ring brooches can be circular or heart-shaped, and their design dates from the Middle Ages. They 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 plaid was originally a length of woollen material worn in the Highland region of Scotland. The men kilted it round their waist and then threw the end over the shoulder, in a similar way to an Indian sari. Women wore it round their shoulders as a blanket or shawl. The plaid brooch was worn by women to fasten the two sides of the shawl together at the front. As the plaid was made of thick woven material, plaid brooches are usually large and strong. The shape of this brooch is typical of Scottish highland plaid brooches of the 17th and 18th centuries. The brooch is unmarked, apart from the owner’s initials IMD engraved on the back. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.93-1962 |
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| Record created | July 1, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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