Handcrafts
Jewellery in the Gothic period
Ring Brooch, 1340–49, German, Middle Rhine. Gold, spinels, sapphires; (2.2 x 0.5 cm). “This brooch, a superb and well-preserved example of fourteenth-century jewelry, comes from a hoard found in the Rhenish village of Lingenfeld in 1969. Because the hoard contained… Continue reading
Celtic coinage and rainbow cups
Mounted Goddess with oval shield depicted on the reverse of a Celtic gold stater from the Rennes Region, Brittany (2nd century BC). Source: http://balkancelts.wordpress.com/tag/celtic-coins/
Use of coins was preceded by use of iron “hryvnia” of standard scales; in addition, barter… Continue reading
Celtic jewellery
The Celts were at their times masters in metalworking – be it gold, silver, iron or bronze – and in handcrafts. Particular ways of metal processing will be described in other posts; this will be on different categories of jewellery… Continue reading
Tablet weaving
Technology of tablet weaving is exceptional for its patterning possibilities; from simple lines and motifs to letters and complex animal or plant patterns. „Tablet“ (or „card“ in the US) is a plate, through which are threaded individual warp threads. Most… Continue reading
Natural dyes
History
Exclusively natural dyes were used from the Neolithic (after transition to agricultural way of life) to approximately half of the 19th century. Among the longest used dyes belong Rubia tinctorum (or related species, for shades of red, probably originally… Continue reading
Lost-wax metal casting
This technique represents possibility of creating an exact copy of original; or in case of producing a completely new object, an ability to create a complex one with many details. It has been used for thousands of years BC (more… Continue reading