Penannular

[tulloch]

Pennanullar brooches have a nice look and are a great design. Just be careful to look at it from time to time to see that it does not turn on its own and get loose.

What you use it for depends on the size and weight. I have two of them that are in the 4-5 cm range - one of silver with a griffon head on each end, and one of bronze with a ball at each end. I use these on a couple of tams. I have a larger one about 5-6 cm diameter bronze with an owl head on each end that I use to hold scarves closed near my neck. I have two other silver ones a bit larger that I will wear with a plaid if I ever have one.

[cclarkcolo]

It will look great with a sash and typically clasps at the shoulder. But the penannular is a very ancient design and was used to hold cloth together where ever it needed to be held. The beauty of the design is that you don't have to peirce the cloth.

[Jack Daw]

I would say, as others do, that you should definitely wear your penannular on your tartan skirt. Here's a live-action shot of me wearing one as a kilt pin. Frankly, I prefer a penannular to the typical kilt pin.

[Piipriker]

somehow I missed this thread the first time. Very enlightening, because I thought recently about using a penannular for a kilt pin myself.

Now my doubts have vanished.

[Muddy]

I used to have a really, really cool one that I affixed to the flap of a leather bag and shoulder strap I devised and kept pipe tobacco and a couple pipes in.
Well, one day, like an idiot, I left it on the front seat of the car when I ducked inside for a few minutes........you guessed it, when I came out I had a broken window on the passenger side and the leather pouch with pennanular was absent the vehicle. Lesson learned.

[Meggers]

This is mine -



And this is it in use -



Regards

Chas

This is about the size of mine. Sorry again that I didn't come with pictures. I'm just scared that it will tear my skirt or will leave a big huge hole in it... I also don't have a sash yet so it would be sitting around with no use. What to do, what to do....

[Chas]

This is about the size of mine. Sorry again that I didn't come with pictures. I'm just scared that it will tear my skirt or will leave a big huge hole in it... I also don't have a sash yet so it would be sitting around with no use. What to do, what to do....

A couple of thoughts, Megan.

A penannular broach can be used in two ways with a sash or fly. Firstly it can 'pin' through the material, and secondly, because of its construction it can be like a buckle and have the material pass through it without pinning it.

When used as a kilt pin or as a broach it can only be pinned. If you notice the pin on mine. It comes to a point, but it is a pretty blunt point. So instead of stabbing through any threads it pushes them out of the way. Yes, it will make a hole, but when it is removed the hole can be closed up by pushing the threads back into place. Once it is removed will the surface be perfect - no. But there will be no damaged threads.

In the end it comes down to the type of material and the size and shape of the pin.

Regards

Chas

[Salvianus]

I used a replica Roman big copper alloy penannular on my first kilt, as I liked the weight of it and that it had a thin pin, much thinner than Chas's there, and was very secure on a cloak. However, the 1st Century style rolled finials tended to catch, as they never had on the shoulder, and a layer of neat flat kilt apron won't grip it by putting it under tension like a good hank of 4 felted cloak layers, so I found it swivelling around.



I do have a smaller Late Roman (Fowler Type G) penannular with faceted finials which would probably work a bit better, though the pin is a bit thick for a fine wool, but I now use a splendid Anglo-Saxon gripping beast design brooch I was given with a standard modern locking mechanism - no good for re-enactment, perfect for traditional dress mindful of history.

You can get sometimes get penannulars with flat finials from a re-enactment supplier called Armamentaria which are probably better for purpose, but plain, and they do carry some limited editions of Nodge Nolan's hand-made creations, but you really can't do better than Raymond's Quiet Press - exact reproductions of finds in a variety of cultures and time periods, obviously "Celtic" but also Viking, Norman and Medieval. He's a lovely chap, who will also silver items for you, a pleasure to deal with.

If you wear a precious pin, don't forget to use the standard method for retaining it - running the pin through a folded thick rubber band behind the cloth, it helps add enough tension to secure it.

cheers

[Meggers]

Here's a picture of mine With my Londonderry tartan

[tulloch]

Very attractive.