Irish Viking Bronze Penannular Brooch
Specifications
| Color | Bronze |
| Material | Alloy, bronze finish |
- For: men & women (adults)
- Bronze-tone alloy, open ring with a sliding pin
- Free shipping from 49€ · secure payment
The Only Warm-Toned Piece in the Aisle
This penannular Viking fibula is made of bronze: an open ring with two ends widening into flat crescents covered in small raised beads. A long pin pivots freely around the ring and locks in place via fabric tension. It is the only piece in this section with this warm hue. Find it in our collection of Viking fibulae and brooches.
The same fastening exists in antique silver on the interlace fibula.
What Sets This Fibula Apart
Granulated decor is a technique, not a pattern: beads applied one by one onto the surface.
- A unique shade in the aisle: seven out of eight pieces are silver-toned. Bronze goes well with brown, ecru, or green wools.
- Crescent terminals: the signature of insular penannular brooches, absent from excavated Scandinavian brooches.
- Granulated decor: raised beads rather than incised engraving — the finish catches the light instead of absorbing it.
- Mechanism-free fastening: nothing that can wear out or break.
To stay within warm tones for a hair accessory, see the golden braided barrette.
Specifications
- Material: Bronze-finish alloy
- Fastening: Penannular ring and mobile pin
- Decor: Granulated terminals
- Worn on: Cape, shawl, wool coat
- Care: Dry cloth, avoid water and perfumes
Did you know?
The Scandinavians didn't just plunder Ireland: they settled there, and Dublin is a Norse foundation. Founded as Dyflin around 841, the city became within a century one of the largest goldsmithing workshops in Northern Europe — excavations at Wood Quay yielded thousands of objects, including brooches that blend Irish decor and Scandinavian style on the same piece. This is not a one-way borrowing, but a shared workshop.
📖 To learn more: Discover our article on the Vikings who settled in the West.
♦ 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.
Why bronze rather than silver?
It is the only piece in the section in this warm tone. Bronze was the everyday metal of Insular brooches, far more widespread than silver, which was reserved for prestige pieces.
What are the crescent terminals?
The two ends of the ring widen into flat crescents, covered with small raised beads — a so-called granulated decoration, characteristic of Irish brooches.
How does it fasten?
Like any penannular brooch: you pass the pin through the fabric, turn it, and the tension locks the assembly in place. No spring.
Does the bronze darken?
Yes, it develops a patina over time, which darkens the recesses and accentuates the relief. A dry cloth is enough to brighten the raised parts.
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.
