Record

Fragments of a mould for making pins, and a pin

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From Mote of Mark, Kirkcudbrightshire and Kirbister, Birsay, Orkney

Postcard of Fragments of a mould for making pins, and a pin.
000-100-040-970-C
© National Museums Scotland

Fragments of a mould for making pins, and a pin

These 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: 0098: 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
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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