Gothic Skeleton Pin Brooch
Specifications
| Color | Silver |
| Material | Alloy, antique silver finish |
- For: men & women (adults)
- Antique-silver alloy, safety pin, spring clasp
- Free shipping from 49€ · secure payment
A Safety Pin, Dressed in a Skeleton
This brooch uses the principle of a safety pin: a long stem, a spring, and a cap that catches the pin. The body is sculpted as a skeleton—a skull at one end, with a rib cage and hand gripping along the stem. Alloy with an antiqued silver finish. Find it in our collection of fibulae and brooches.
A quick clarification: this motif is not Nordic. To stay within the Scandinavian style, take a look at the intertwined Urnes beast.
What Sets This Brooch Apart
It is the only one in our collection where the fastening mechanism is also the subject.
- A safety closure: the tip is captured in a cap, just like a safety pin—nothing like a classic brooch clasp.
- Goes through thick layers: coat lapels, bag straps, or double layers of wool.
- Decor sculpted onto the stem: the skeleton follows the length of the pin rather than being mounted on a plate.
- Unapologetically Gothic: we do not present this as a Viking piece.
For the other non-Nordic piece in our collection, see the skull sphinx brooch.
Specifications
- Material: Alloy, antiqued silver finish
- Motif: Skeleton, skull and hand on the stem
- Fastening: Spring-loaded safety pin with cap
- Wear on: Coat, jacket, bag, shoulder strap
- Care: Dry cloth, avoid water and perfumes
Did you know?
The modern safety pin was patented in 1849 by the American Walter Hunt, who invented it in three hours to pay off a fifteen-dollar debt—then sold his patent for four hundred dollars, without imagining what he was giving up. The principle, however, is much older: the Roman fibula and Bronze Age pins already functioned using a spring and cap. What Hunt actually invented was the single-wire, weld-free version—the only one that could be mass-produced.
📖 Learn more: Discover our article on Viking daily life.
♦ Complete Your Viking Collection
Discover other pieces you might like:
Brooch or hair barrette: which one to choose?
| Type | Where it is worn | What you need to know |
|---|---|---|
| Garment brooch (fibula) this product | On a cloak, a shawl, a coat or a jacket lapel. | These are the largest pieces in the range. Six close with a straight pin and a clasp; two are penannular: an open ring locked by the tension of the fabric, with no spring to wear out. |
| Barrette with a hair stick | In a bun, a braid or a half-up ponytail. | Two pieces: the plate sits on the hair, the stick goes through the lock and holds everything in place. You need enough hair for the stick to go through: with hair shorter than shoulder length, the hold becomes uncertain. |
| Light barrette or clip | On medium-length hair, including fine hair. | The filigree models have a small chain that holds the stick; the flat barrettes close with a clip and need no minimum length. These are the most discreet pieces and the easiest to put in. |
| Medallion barrette | Flat on a half-up ponytail or a low bun. | A solid disc that sits on the gathered lock instead of going through it. It is the shape that needs the least hair length, and the only one that shows a scene rather than an ornament. |
How to wear it
There is no size to choose. A brooch (fibula) is fastened to the fabric, not to the body: the only question is the cloth.
The six straight-pin models are worn like a classic brooch: push the pin through the fabric and close the clasp. They suit a jacket lapel, a shawl or a thick scarf.
The two penannular models (the open ring crossed by a long pin) work differently: pass the pin through the cloth, turn it a quarter turn, and the tension of the garment locks it against the ring. The more the cloak pulls, the tighter it holds. It is the most secure fastening on heavy wool, and the one with no mechanical part to break.
On thin fabric, any pin leaves a mark. These pieces are made for broadcloth, wool and thick linen, not for silk or fine knits.
Care: dry cloth. Avoid water, perfume and silver polish, which remove the patina lodged in the hollows: it is what gives the design all its relief.
Is this a Viking motif?
No, and we would rather say so. The skeleton and the skull belong to the gothic and punk repertoire, not to Scandinavian art. The Vikings depicted interlaced animals, very rarely human figures, and never bones.
How thick a fabric can it go through?
Much thicker than a classic clasp brooch. The pin is long and the spring mechanism closes it over a double coat lapel or a bag strap without forcing.
Does the clasp hold securely?
Yes. It is a spring-loaded safety clasp, on the same principle as a safety pin: the point tucks into a cap and cannot come out on its own.
Is the point covered?
Yes, once it is closed. When open, the point is exposed as on any pin — close it before storing it with other jewelry.
Delivery — Allow 7 to 15 business days for mainland France, 10 to 20 days for the European Union. Free delivery on orders over €49.
Delivery guarantee — If your parcel is not delivered within 60 business days, we will provide an immediate reshipment or a full refund.
14-day returns — You have 14 calendar days from receipt to request an exchange or refund. The item must be returned within this period, in its original packaging.
Legal guarantees — All our products are covered by the legal guarantee of conformity and the guarantee against hidden defects, in accordance with the Consumer Code and the Civil Code.
