IRISH CELTIC PENANNULARS
The very first brooches of this kind date back to the eighth century. The ancient Celtic people were the first to devise a way of pinning garments together. The Penannular or open ring brooch is among the most ancient of jewellery worn with articles of clothing. In ancient times, brooches were merely used as fasteners to hold clothing together, the Celtic people used them to fasten their cloaks. The original brooches were used much like the modern day safety pin.
Penannular brooches, used as cloak pins, were worn by the Celts in Britain from about the third century into early Christian times. Worn at the shoulder or breast, the brooches were as small as an inch in diameter, or quite large. Some were plain bronze, iron or copper, and some jeweled and decorated with gilt, but all had one thing in common: a long loose pin that could slide around the ring. Penannular means almost a ring. Some were pseudo-penannular, i.e., made to look like true penannulars, except that the opening, although indicated, was closed. To use a true penannular gather a fold of fabric, bring the pin through from back to front through the opening, and then turn the ring to keep it on firmly. Sounds complicated? It isn't, and besides, six centuries of Celts did it to keep their cloaks on.
These brooches eventually developed into the great Irish pieces, of which the most famous is the eighth century Tara brooch, often shown in books on Celtic art. The sterling true penannular brooch is especially nice for ladies' dress wear, on a sash at the shoulder, on a fine scarf or shawl, or on a kilted skirt (instead of a long pin). This period was made famous by Alexander & Euphemia Ritchie who worked on the Scottish Holy Isle of Iona c 1910-40.The Ritchie's used the symbols from the past that surrounded them on the island of Iona. Much of their inspiration was drawn from the rich patterns of interlace, foliage and knotwork on Iona's carved stones and crosses. Alexander was actually the Official guide to the historic monuments of Iona.
Penannular brooches, used as cloak pins, were worn by the Celts in Britain from about the third century into early Christian times. Worn at the shoulder or breast, the brooches were as small as an inch in diameter, or quite large. Some were plain bronze, iron or copper, and some jeweled and decorated with gilt, but all had one thing in common: a long loose pin that could slide around the ring. Penannular means almost a ring. Some were pseudo-penannular, i.e., made to look like true penannulars, except that the opening, although indicated, was closed. To use a true penannular gather a fold of fabric, bring the pin through from back to front through the opening, and then turn the ring to keep it on firmly. Sounds complicated? It isn't, and besides, six centuries of Celts did it to keep their cloaks on.
These brooches eventually developed into the great Irish pieces, of which the most famous is the eighth century Tara brooch, often shown in books on Celtic art. The sterling true penannular brooch is especially nice for ladies' dress wear, on a sash at the shoulder, on a fine scarf or shawl, or on a kilted skirt (instead of a long pin). This period was made famous by Alexander & Euphemia Ritchie who worked on the Scottish Holy Isle of Iona c 1910-40.The Ritchie's used the symbols from the past that surrounded them on the island of Iona. Much of their inspiration was drawn from the rich patterns of interlace, foliage and knotwork on Iona's carved stones and crosses. Alexander was actually the Official guide to the historic monuments of Iona.
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TARA STYLE BROOCH STERLING SILVER ~ AI01S $129.00 USD 10K YELLOW GOLD ~ AI0110K $599.00 USD 14K YELLOW GOLD ~ AI0114K $795.00 USD |
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PENANNULAR SCROLL & VINES - Robert Allison ~ PN01 Sterling silver $65.00 USD WEIGHT: 10 GRAMS SIZE: 1-1/2"DIAMETER $ 65.00 $599.00 $795.00 |
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PENANNULAR CELTIC DISKS - Louis Walsh~ PN02 WEIGHT: 13 GRAMS SIZE: 1-1/2"DIAMETER Sterling silver $84.50 USD |
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PENANNULAR INTERLACE & KNOTS LARGE STERLING SILVER ~ PN03 WEIGHT: 25 GRAMS ~ SIZE: 2"DIAMETER Sterling silver $162.50 USD |
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PENANNULAR RAMS STERLING SILVER - Robert Allison ~ PN04 WEIGHT: 13 GRAMS SIZE: 1- 1/2"DIAMETER Sterling silver $84.98 USD |
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PENANNULAR GLENFINNAN, STERLING SILVER PIERCED INTERLACE- John Hart ~ PN05 WEIGHT: 15 GRAMS ~ SIZE: 2"DIAMETER $98.00 USD |
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PN07 PENANNULAR DOUBLE BOSSES & SCROLL - Robert Allison WEIGHT: 18 GRAMS ~ SIZE: 1-3/4"DIAMETER $117.50 USD |
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PN06 PENANNULAR VIKING IONA GALLEY WEIGHT: 15 GRAMS ~ SIZE: 2"DIAMETER $69.98 USD |
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PN08 PENANNULAR CELTIC INTERLACE LARGE WEIGHT: 20 GRAMS ~ SIZE: 2- 1/8"DIAMETER $129.00 USD |
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PN09 PENANNULAR BOSSES WEIGHT: 13 GRAMS SIZE: 1-1/5"DIAMETER $84.98 USD |
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PN11 PENANNULAR SMALL THISTLE WEIGHT: 5 GRAMS SIZE: 2"DIAMETER $39.98 USD |
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PN12 PENANNULAR INTERLACE, BOSSES, STONES - Louis Walsh WEIGHT: 12 GRAMS SIZE: 2"DIAMETER $ 89.98 $89.98 USD |
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PN12 PENANNULAR INTERLACE, BOSSES, STONES - Louis Walsh WEIGHT: 12 GRAMS SIZE: 2"DIAMETER $ 89.98 $89.98 USD |
MODEL # DESCRIPTION STERLING SILVER 10 KARAT GOLD 14 KARAT GOLD
I01 TARA STYLE - Robert Allison ~ WEIGHT: 10 GRAMS SIZE: 1-1/2"DIAMETER $ 65.00 $599.00 $795.00
PN01 PENANNULAR SCROLL VINES- Robert Allison WEIGHT: 12 GRAMS ~ SIZE: 1-1/2"DIAMETER $ 79.98
PN02 PENANNULAR CELTIC DISKS - Louis Walsh WEIGHT: 13 GRAMS SIZE: 1-1/2"DIAMETER $ 84.50
PN03 PENANNULAR INTERLACE & KNOTS LARGE WEIGHT: 25 GRAMS ~ SIZE: 2"DIAMETER $162.50
PN04 PENANNULAR RAMS - Robert Allison WEIGHT: 13 GRAMS SIZE: 1- 1/2"DIAMETER $ 84.98
PN05 PENANNULAR GLENFINNAN, PIERCED INTERLACE- John Hart WEIGHT: 15 GRAMS ~ SIZE: 2"DIAMETER $ 98.00
PN06 PENANNULAR VIKING IONA GALLEY WEIGHT: 11 GRAMS ~ SIZE: 1-1/2"DIAMETER $ 69.98
PN07 PENANNULAR DOUBLE BOSSES & SCROLL - Robert Allison WEIGHT: 18 GRAMS ~ SIZE: 1-3/4"DIAMETER $117.50
PN08 PENANNULAR CELTIC INTERLACE LARGE WEIGHT: 20 GRAMS ~ SIZE: 2- 1/8"DIAMETER $129.98
PN09 PENANNULAR BOSSES WEIGHT: 13 GRAMS SIZE: 1-1/5"DIAMETER $ 84.98
PN10 PENANNULAR PSEUDO TARA STYLE WITH STONE WEIGHT: 7 GRAMS SIZE: 1"DIAMETER $ 55.98
PN11 PENANNULAR SMALL THISTLE WEIGHT: 5 GRAMS SIZE: 2"DIAMETER $ 34.98
PN12 PENANNULAR INTERLACE, BOSSES, STONES - Louis Walsh WEIGHT: 12 GRAMS SIZE: 2"DIAMETER $ 89.98
PN12 PENANNULAR INTERLACE, BOSSES, STONE, AMETHYST PASTE - Louis Walsh WEIGHT: 12 GRAMS SIZE: 2"DIAMETER $ 89.98
PN12 PENANNULAR INTERLACE, BOSSES, STONE CAIRNGORM PASTE- Louis Walsh ~ WEIGHT: 12 GRAMS SIZE: 2"DIAMETER $ 89.98
I01 TARA STYLE - Robert Allison ~ WEIGHT: 10 GRAMS SIZE: 1-1/2"DIAMETER $ 65.00 $599.00 $795.00
PN01 PENANNULAR SCROLL VINES- Robert Allison WEIGHT: 12 GRAMS ~ SIZE: 1-1/2"DIAMETER $ 79.98
PN02 PENANNULAR CELTIC DISKS - Louis Walsh WEIGHT: 13 GRAMS SIZE: 1-1/2"DIAMETER $ 84.50
PN03 PENANNULAR INTERLACE & KNOTS LARGE WEIGHT: 25 GRAMS ~ SIZE: 2"DIAMETER $162.50
PN04 PENANNULAR RAMS - Robert Allison WEIGHT: 13 GRAMS SIZE: 1- 1/2"DIAMETER $ 84.98
PN05 PENANNULAR GLENFINNAN, PIERCED INTERLACE- John Hart WEIGHT: 15 GRAMS ~ SIZE: 2"DIAMETER $ 98.00
PN06 PENANNULAR VIKING IONA GALLEY WEIGHT: 11 GRAMS ~ SIZE: 1-1/2"DIAMETER $ 69.98
PN07 PENANNULAR DOUBLE BOSSES & SCROLL - Robert Allison WEIGHT: 18 GRAMS ~ SIZE: 1-3/4"DIAMETER $117.50
PN08 PENANNULAR CELTIC INTERLACE LARGE WEIGHT: 20 GRAMS ~ SIZE: 2- 1/8"DIAMETER $129.98
PN09 PENANNULAR BOSSES WEIGHT: 13 GRAMS SIZE: 1-1/5"DIAMETER $ 84.98
PN10 PENANNULAR PSEUDO TARA STYLE WITH STONE WEIGHT: 7 GRAMS SIZE: 1"DIAMETER $ 55.98
PN11 PENANNULAR SMALL THISTLE WEIGHT: 5 GRAMS SIZE: 2"DIAMETER $ 34.98
PN12 PENANNULAR INTERLACE, BOSSES, STONES - Louis Walsh WEIGHT: 12 GRAMS SIZE: 2"DIAMETER $ 89.98
PN12 PENANNULAR INTERLACE, BOSSES, STONE, AMETHYST PASTE - Louis Walsh WEIGHT: 12 GRAMS SIZE: 2"DIAMETER $ 89.98
PN12 PENANNULAR INTERLACE, BOSSES, STONE CAIRNGORM PASTE- Louis Walsh ~ WEIGHT: 12 GRAMS SIZE: 2"DIAMETER $ 89.98
