Later_brooches.2C_and_the_Vikings Celtic_brooch

viking period pennannular brooches penrith hoard, 3 of thistle type.

the vikings began raid ireland 795, catastrophic effect monasteries in particular. however, although vikings established several longphorts, fortified encampments over-wintering, , later towns dublin, wexford, cork, , waterford (the first real urban centres in ireland), native irish more successful english , scots in preventing large-scale viking takeovers of areas settlement farmers. year 1000, situation relatively stable, mixed population of norse-gaels in towns , areas close them, while gaelic irish, elite had formed political alliances, trading partnerships , inter-marriages viking leaders, remained in control of great majority of island, , able draw tribute viking towns.

the period characterised increased availability of silver, presumably result of viking raiding , trading, , brooches made silver throughout, gilding , decoration in other materials disappears. brooches large , relatively massive, plainer elaborate earlier ones, neither using older local decorative styles nor viking styles adopted in other media. continues trend can detected in later brooches preceding period, before viking influence can have made felt. 9th century roscrea brooch 1 of number of transitional brooches; though form highly ornate, large flat triangular pin head, ring thick plain silver, gold filigree panels occupy relatively small areas, , workmanship coarse or crude imitation of of earlier works. kilamery brooch comparable example, marked emphasis on plain flat silver surfaces. there rare exceptions in highly decorated brooch shows scandinavian stylistic , technical influence, notably irish brooch rathlin island, areas stamped irish tradition have used casting.

the brooches appear have been made native metalworkers, worn both vikings , gaels. popular thistle brooches have terminals , pin-heads thistle flowers, ball topped round projection, flared; called term regardless of whether or not ball brambled —that is, formed regular pattern of small tapering projections, 2 lowest brooches penrith hoard illustrated here. these, , other globular endings terminals , pin-heads, common, flattened terminals continued made, ornamented round silver bosses amid simple repeated patterns, or interlace larger in scale in earlier ornate badges. in these, ring ends in gripping beast biting terminal plate. mixture of types seen in 10th century penrith hoard typical.

brooches made in scandinavia, in base metal

insular brooches had been taken scandinavia, , began produced there in 10th century wearing singly men @ shoulder; viking women wore pairs of characteristic oval brooches on upper breast. simpler insular examples, , several hundred examples in tinned bronze rather silver known. 10th century danish møllerløkken brooch elaborate example known, simple overall design ball terminals , pin-head, rich detailing such interlace panels on ring , filigree sections on balls. other insular types produced in viking areas of england, scandinavian york. penannular brooch fell common use end of 11th century, time when ireland , scotland, , scandinavia, adopting general western european styles in many areas of both art , life.

a distinctly irish type of brooch found @ end of viking period kite brooch, name derives almond shape called kite in heraldry, though shapes of heads highly variable. apparently worn, larger brooches, singly pin pointing upwards. half dozen exist in silver, including examples larger average, pins 7.9 cm long. in these, there no ring, elaborate head connected pin of variable length short tab of metal can move on joints @ both ends; there cord winding round pin secure it. 14 of these brooches have been found date in ireland, many incomplete, , none elsewhere; 5 of these dublin, earliest 940s. appear further 2 centuries; around 1200, typical medieval ring brooches have little distinctively irish them found instead.