Headwear - beaded pins?

Frances Perry · Post by **Frances Perry** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:59 pm

I have been at several markets where brass hat pins are for sale with glass beads on the end of them.

So far, I've ony found a few internet shops which sell plain brass pins - does anyone know if there are any shops which sell bead pins?

Suppose ~I should also ask if there is any evidence for beaded pins, or whether plain brass ones would be better...

Thanks,

Fran

Lady Cecily · Post by **Lady Cecily** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 9:54 pm

I don't believe there is a lot (if any) pins with glass bead heads in the medieval period. It could be a reenactorism. Do some searches for copper alloy* pins in the

Portable Antiqiuties Website

and you will struggle to find any. I didn't. I suppose it's possible - I just know that most pins have copper alloy heads.

*copper alloy - brass or bronze

Neibelungen · Post by **Neibelungen** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:30 pm

See Museum of London Dress Accessories 1150-1450 page 297-304.

It gives a general indication that they were relatively uncommon in the earlier 11th to 13th C but as the numbers of pins in use increased they were supplanted in the 14th and 15th C by the massive use of plain wire bound pins, but never dissapeared entierly.

The general indication was that these type of pins were probably high status items rather than a common pin style, since the decorative workmanship and fineness of the wire was much higher than general pins of that earlier date.

Lady Cecily · Post by **Lady Cecily** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 6:57 am

Fair doos - I really must pick that book up sometime. I didn't rule them out entirely

Frances Perry · Post by **Frances Perry** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 8:28 am

Thank you very much for your help - sounds like I'm better off not going for beads, and playing safe with coiled head brass pins.

Colin Middleton · Post by **Colin Middleton** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 12:34 pm

Lady Cecily wrote:I don't believe there is a lot (if any) pins with glass bead heads in the medieval period. It could be a reenactorism. Do some searches for copper alloy* pins in the

Portable Antiqiuties Website

and you will struggle to find any. I didn't. I suppose it's possible - I just know that most pins have copper alloy heads.

*copper alloy - brass or bronze

Have you tried searching for Latten? I've got a sneeking suspicion that it wasa medieval catch-all for most copper alloys.

oakenshield · Post by **oakenshield** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 6:55 pm

try here if they dont have them they will makem for you:)
http://www.6of1.biz/

Lady Cecily · Post by **Lady Cecily** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 6:58 pm

Colin Middleton wrote:
Lady Cecily wrote:I don't believe there is a lot (if any) pins with glass bead heads in the medieval period. It could be a reenactorism. Do some searches for copper alloy* pins in the

Portable Antiqiuties Website

and you will struggle to find any. I didn't. I suppose it's possible - I just know that most pins have copper alloy heads.

*copper alloy - brass or bronze
Have you tried searching for Latten? I've got a sneeking suspicion that it wasa medieval catch-all for most copper alloys.

But this site is run by archaeologists who call all brass or bronze, copper alloy or CU for short.

Alice the Huswyf · Post by **Alice the Huswyf** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 6:58 pm

Kay Rouse kay.kit@talk2l.com keeps them in stock and will post, they can be found at TORM easily on a couple of stalls -beaded or plain