Antique jewelry glossary

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Thistle brooch

A type of pin brooch having ornaments in the form of a thistle. Such brooches are composed of a long pin at the top of which is a penannular ornament to which the pin is affixed so that it can swivel in order to be attached to a garment and secured in the opening on the lower side of the ornament. The ornament has two small knobs on the terminals of the opening, to secure the pin.

Such pins are of Viking style, and have been found in Cumberland, England, and in Scotland.

From: An Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry, autor: Harold Newman, publishers: Thames and Hudson