Fragments of a mould for making pins, and a pin

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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: 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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