Penannular brooches and the like

**JRB** · 22nd June 07, 03:23 PM

I haven't had too many problems accidentally impaling things. Still, after seeing how short bodkins can be, I'm going to grind some length off a bit.

**gilmore** · 29th June 07, 08:35 PM

Is this the same as Hamlet's bare bodkin? If so, how does one go about making a quietus with it?

**Malachi** · 29th June 07, 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by Woodsheal

Right, if you're an authenticity nut (like me!) don't use a pennanular brooch. They fell out of use in the early middle ages and are not "right" for the great kilt period....

A bodkin is just a big, heavy straight pin of any material: iron, brass, bone, a sliver of antler, a thorn. Raiding Granny's box of old hatpins will often yield something perfect. These make great bodkins, too:

http://www.craftycelts.com/hair/lightpins.html

Well now, if the Pennanular Brooch came before the Annular Brooch and the Bodkin, wouldn't it still be acceptable to use? Just because it was no longer of "common" useage, it could still have been used by some. The way I see this, it isn't as if you are trying to use a zipper or velcro, neither of which had even been invented yet. To me that is the true essence of avoiding annachronisms in costuming.

**Mr. MacDougall** · 30th June 07, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by gilmore

Is this the same as Hamlet's bare bodkin? If so, how does one go about making a quietus with it?

Hamlet's bodkin is a knife, and one would make quietus with it by using it to end one's life. He's contemplating suicide in the solequy. (I know I misspelled that, but I'm too lazy to look up the proper spelling just now).

**MacWage** · 4th August 07, 08:53 PM

I was at my favorite reenactment supply/fabric store (96 District Storehouse in Abbeville, SC) today to stock up on material for cadadh/hose and some stuff to make flashes for a wedding next Sat. PLUS, I got material to make a 5x6 or 6x7 foot (or so) Scottish saltaire (historic remnants from the Jacobite era were sometimes square or almost so-> plus 2 yards costs less than 3 and results in enough less sewing to make my arm and hand happy). NOW, I will have "natural white" worsted wool ones, as well as some ones in my favorite yellow in woven cotton ribbon! (YEAH!!!!)

They also had some bone bodkins for $4 each. they are 3 inches long, with a 7/8 inch "head." The head is also about 3/16 in diameter and made of 3 spheres and 2 "diamond" shapes (from "hilt" to tip). The other 2 1/8 inches are a gradiated cone shape, like the ones earlier in this thread.