From Mote of Mark, Kirkcudbrightshire and Kirbister, Birsay, Orkney
Add to albumThese two fragments of baked clay moulds were found at the native hillfort settlement at the Mote of Mark in Kirkcudbrightshire. The moulds were used to produce pins similar to the bronze example pictured here from Kirbister at Birsay in Orkney.
The moulds produced nail-headed pins, a common form of pin in bone and metal throughout the Northern and Western Isles.
Bronze could be cast into very intricate and ornate shapes using moulds, making it ideal for jewellery. Specialist metalworkers, working under the protection of a powerful leader, produced fine brooches and pins. Moulds were generally used only once.
Record details
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- Online ID: 000-100-040-970-C
- Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
- Project:
National Museums Scotland
Project description View all records in project
- Ref: National Museums Scotland X.FC 241
- Date: 500 - 800 AD
Moulds: between 500 and 700; pin: between 500 and 800
- Material: Bronze; discoidal head
Mould, pin / portion
Mould, pin / portion
Pin
- Dimensions: 2.13" L
- What: Mould, pin / portion
Mould, pin / portion
Pin
- Subject:
- Who:
- Where: Scotland, Kirkcudbrightshire, Colvend and Southwick, Mote of Mark
Scotland, Kirkcudbrightshire, Colvend and Southwick, Mote of Mark
Scotland, Orkney, Birsay and Harray, Kirbister
- Event:
- Description: Portion of a mould for nail-headed pins, from Mote of Mark
Portion of a mould for nail-headed pins, from Mote of Mark
Nail-headed bronze pin, from Kirbister, Orkney, 500 - 800 AD
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