Sunday, June 19, 2011

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.

4 comments:

  1. There's also Precious Metal Clay, but it has to be fired, and then we're getting into the expensive thing again.

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  2. "There's also Precious Metal Clay, but it has to be fired, and then we're getting into the expensive thing again."

    That's exactly right; that's why I'm not trying PMC. On the other hand, I've used Sculpey once before, and got at least adequate results.

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  3. I'm not sure you'll see this since it's been months from your post, but I have had excellant success using Rub 'n Buff in a variety of metal tones on sculpy. You can get a range of aged appearance depending on how much you 'rub'. Good luck. (and if you have time, visit our sewing blog Idle Hands - the Ms-Fit's Wardrobe)

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  4. Hi, Lisa and Robin! Welcome. (I have Blogger set to tell me whenever I get a comment on any post, so don't be afraid to comment on old posts just because they're old!)

    What is "Rub 'n Buff"? I've never heard of it before. Sounds interesting, and I'll have to check out your blog!

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