The Galway Brooch

This pin is based on a brooch that dates back to the early 800s. The Brooch was found in Galway in June 1854 during a dig at the remains of a burial mound. It’s has not seen Irish soil since. 

It first came into possession of the landowner Edward Hoare Esq, who sold it to John Lindsay (a noted Coin Collector). It moved, not unlike Van Morrison from Ireland to London and then onto New York -  and now held in the Met Museum (unlike Van Morrison), but it is not on display there.

This is an unusual penannular brooch to have been found in Galway, mostly because it’s got examples of Pictish influence across it - and The Picts never settled in Ireland. One of the only other Pict-influenced brooches found in Ireland would be the Kilmainham Brooch - and you can see that in the National Museum. 

The Galway brooch itself is made of silver with mounted amber. The original discoveries described the ends as depicting ‘wolves heads’, but now the belief is that they are bats (and in fairness, they look more like bats). Personally, I think they look like Bumblebees, for what it’s worth.

The Brooch has a bit of a tragic story. A lot of effort went into making this piece. It somehow winds its way up in Galway, miles away from where you’d expect it. It gets buried with some unknown (and assumedly important) person over a thousand years ago. And then, one day, someone working for British Army digs it up and sells it.

The chances are that you’re not going to get a chance to see this beauty during your lifetime - especially as it’s not on view at The Met (and hasn’t been this side of the Millennium), so I’ve decide to recreate it. Bring the Galway Brooch home and stick it on your lapel.

Pin Details:

• 30mm Tall / 47mm wide (brooch point to point)

• 1.8mm thick

• 3d Soft Enamel Pin

• Antique-Silver plating

• Three Amber-coloured Rhinestone gems

• Two Pin Backs (with rubber clutches)