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This bronze pin was found on the Brough of Birsay in Orkney. It is an Irish type of pin, made sometime between 875 and 1100.

The pin has a crutch-shaped head decorated with two ring and dots, a popular decorative motif found on both Pictish and Viking objects. It is very corroded.

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.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-040-628-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.HB 424
• Date: Between 875 and 1100
  
• Material: Bronze; crutch head; decorated with dot-in-circle
  
• Dimensions: 76 mm L
  
• What:
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Brough of Birsay
  
• Event:
• Description: Irish bronze pin with crutch head, from Birsay
  
• References:
  • Curle, C.L. Pictish and Norse finds from the Brough of Birsay, 1973-74. Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Monograph Series 1, 1982, pp 62-3. 
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