For the Medieval Re-enactor

 

Brooches
 

 

 David's Brooch

18K gold and blue tourmaline - Sold

 Design sketch for David's Brooch

I made this medieval annular pin to order quite some time ago, and of the thousands of brooches that I have made it is still one of my favorites. I do not have any like it for sale at this time, but would be happy to consider custom orders.

 

 

Groat Brooches

.999 Silver

The thriftiness of medieval peoples never fails to amaze me. Everything seems to have ben re-worked into something else. So I was heartly amused the first time I saw an example of a brooch cut from a coin in a batch of artifacts from a dig. When my friend G.P.Franck-Weiby, a coin die carver, gave me a batch of scrap silver as payment for a project that included some mis-struck groat reproductions, I had to give it a try. I cut the larger brooch so to show the ends of the long cross pattern, and the inscription "MEVM-POSVI-JAH-ADIVTORE". The smaller brooch shows the tressure and the crown from the king's portrait on the front of the coin. The button is reversible, but I have chosen to face the side with the center of the longcross and pellets, rather the king with his eyes put out.

 

   

 Silver faceted Annulars

Sterling silver - 30mm.

 Silver stamped Annulars

Sterling silver - 35mm.

These are some of my most popular broches. They are lightweight, sparkly, and very secure.

 

 

 Gold Annular with Stones

14K gold, rubies and emeralds - 35mm

This is a very common type form the period, and many were made in imitation from lead alloy.

 Gold Annular

14K gold - 40mm

This form is a project that I sometimes give my students to challenge them. It is a forged form. No metal has been removed except the little slivers turned out by engraving in the corners. These are available in silver for special order.

 

 

 Gold Annular

14K gold - 30mm - SOLD

This is a more elaborate version of the same project. In this brooch the pin crosses the circle between the corners, rather than on them, and it is attached so that the flat side of the forged form is forward rather than the ridged side. The engraving is also much more elaborate. These can be custom ordered in either gold or silver.

  Barbed Trefoil Annular

Cast bronze - 35mm

The elegance of this design is striking in its symmetry. The pin hinges up from one of the barbs such that what you see when the brooch is fastened is a nearly perfect trefoil shape. These are also available in silver, and in a larger size, 90mm, request in both bronze and silver.

 

 Gothic Annular Brooches with Stones - Sterling silver and stones
These are available with a variety of stones.

 

 

Rings

 

  Coptic Rings

Sterling Silver

I first developed this design for a customer who wanted a coptic style engagement ring. That first ring was 18K gold and set with an emerald, but I liked the lines so well that I re-worked the design to accommodate a round stone. These rings have a five sided shank and are available with either amethyst or garnet. Other stones are also available by special order. Be sure to include your ring size when ordering.

  14th century Rings

Sterling Silver

As with the above ring I first developed this design for a customer who wanted a 14th century gold ring set with a sapphire. Again I liked the lines so well that I re-worked the design and started making them in sterling silver with amethyst or garnet. Other stones are also available by special order. Be sure to include your ring size when ordering.

 

Other Medieval Work

Relic

Silver, enamel, stones, painted vellum, wood - 60mm x 90mm- SOLD

A friend of mine went to Glastonbury some time back, where grows the thorn tree that tradition holds sprung from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea. Thorn trees shed a lot of branches, and so holy relics are not too hard to get there. My friend brought some back along with jugs of water from the holy well. He collects holy water from shrines and sacred springs all over the world. It is not the strangest of his hobbies, but he is an odd guy.

The relic is set under a hollowed out bit of rock crystal, about the size of a duck egg. The background is painted sheep vellum, with gold leaf around the edge. The body of the work is engraved silver set with stones, and an enamel on the reverse.

Roller buckle

Sterling silver - 35mm x 20mm

These little 12th century German buckles are popular among historical shoemakers. I am always happy to go to a faire and see some of them on someone's shoes.

 

If you have questions about any of my work, or want to see more detailed images of any of the things you see here do not hesitate to contact me.

Bill Dawson
3403 Steamboat Island Road NW
PMB # 527
Olympia, WA 98502