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This bronze dress pin was found with at least one, and probably a pair, of oval brooches, apparently from a Norse woman's grave on Tiree in the Inner Hebrides. The pin was probably made in Ireland, and brought to Scotland as loot or an object of trade.

The pin has four knobs at the corners of the openwork lozenge-shaped head. The thick upper knob is pierced between its top and bottom.

Dress pins were used to fasten cloaks throughout northern Europe. They occur in a range of materials and styles. Some were quite elaborate, and clearly meant to display social status as well as hold together clothing.

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• Online ID: 000-100-104-164-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IL 220
• Date: 850 - 950
  Between 850 and 950
  
• Material: Bronze; open lozenge-shaped head
  
• Dimensions: 6.75" L
  
• What:
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Argyll, Tiree
  
• Event:
• Description: Insular open lozenge-headed bronze pin, probably Irish, from Tiree, 850 - 950
  
• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James and Batey, Colleen E. Vikings in Scotland. An Archaeological Survey. Edinburgh: University Press, 1998, p 87. 
  • Grieg, Sigurd. Viking Antiquities in Scotland (=Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland, Part II, ed. by Haakon Shetelig). Oslo: H. Aschehoug & Co., 1940, p 63. 
• Translations:
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