The Vendel Brooch

After carefully reviewing the information I've obtained about disc-on-bow brooches available from vendors, I've decided that I can't afford to pay $40 for the brooch AND nearly $40 for shipping (the best offer I've found to date).

So my new plan is to use the photographs I've found on line to make a brooch for myself from Sculpey. It's possible to buy Sculpey in metallic colors, such as bronze, and that's what I plan to do. I'll buy enough bronze Sculpey to make a suitably-sized brooch (I already have glaze to paint it with to make the piece look more metallic), and a long stickpin to embed in the back for a fastener. Perhaps I can find small glass chips in a craft store to add to the brooch in place of enamel or garnet inlay.

I also need to determine whether the overdress during the Vendel period was likely to be a peplos or some form of strapped apron-dress during the Vendel period. I have an e-mail contact I need to write to on this issue.

Meanwhile, here's a website with gorgeous, detailed color pictures of brooches and other jewelry, ranging from the La Tene culture to the Viking period, many of which are Migration Period. There's a few disc-on-bow brooches, too, of which I had not previously found pictures. Enjoy!

EDIT: I misremembered. The site I was thinking about is charging 29 Euros for the brooch, and 35 Euros to ship it to the USA! At current exchange rates that works out to a total cost of over $92 USD. While I sympathize with the difficulties in dealing with overseas, international shipping, that's no deal for me.