Medallions. Research. New Tools.
Materials: 16swg Nickel Silver wire, wire-bending tools
"How do I look?" -Audrey Hepburn
I combined my Silver Brooch medallion with a Merovingian-based Silver Wheel medallion, and have been wearing them as a necklace for the past year or so. As I often wear Norse clothing, for its ease and comfort, I also wanted to have a pin option available, should I choose. I began by trolling museum collections, and came across a Hallstatt brooch that was sized pretty closely to what I envisioned, and it even had loops to dangle my medallions from!
To complete my recreation piece, I used a scaled photograph of the extent find as my size-guide to bend my wire accordingly, and used the tools shown above, along with a 1/16" steel mandrel to keep my coil tight and consistent. I sought out the advice of Meantoir Roibeard macNeill on what metal would be closest in strength to that of the bronze, but would match the silver of my pewter medallions, and he recommended nickel silver.
What I learned:
* Loosely coiled metal wire does not appreciate being forced into a little loop or a straight line.
* Soft aluminum is not appropriate for a pin, but works lovely for spirals (top).
* Loops go the other way (middle)! No, the other other way!
* Not all nylon-tipped pliers are created equal.
What I changed in my recreation from the extent:
* I chose nickel silver as my metal.
* I used pre-formed wire.
* I made my spiral smaller, because I will be using this as a decorative pin, and not a dress fastener.
My source:
Description: Bronze Location: Hallstatt, Hallstatt A-D, 1200 to 1100 BC Bracket with two loops, small winding spiral and partly circular incisions Length: 13.4 cm Very good condition Verification through Art Loss Register Provenance: former collection K.S., Cologne This kind of fibula from the period of 1200 until 1100 BC, the ending Bronze Age, were the forerunners of the safety pin and they were used as cloak pins. Here in very rare and valuable workmanship. Object is regular taxed. 19% VAT is added to the purchase price for deliveries within the EU.
This fibula from the period of 1200 until 1100 BC impresses in the filigree workmanship in bronze and the exquisite preservation. This fibula is a highly interesting piece, which was found in Hallstatt. According to the scheme of Paul Reinecke from the year 1902, the ending Bronze Age and the early Iron Age are divided in four periods, Hallstatt A-D. The straight bracket of this fibula is winding over a small spiral and ending in two loops. The connecting bar between the loops is embellished with partly circular incisions, one of the design elements of fibulas that continued into later centuries. The feature of this special fibula is a large spiral head. In many rounds closely wound together it is a masterpiece of the craftsmanship of the time. This kind of fibula from the period of 1200 until 1100 BC, the ending Bronze Age, were the forerunners of the safety pin and they were used as cloak pins. Here in very rare and valuable workmanship.
The fibula is in an age-according very good condition with most minimal traces of age. It is 13.4 cm in length and the spiral is 6.9 cm in diameter. (tm)
https://www.auctionzip.com/auction-lot/Bronze-Fibula-with-Spiral-Head,-Hallstatt,-1200-1_8EF7358FBE/
accessed 5/28/2021
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