Gulf Wars Largesse

This year, I was requested to make something "kickass" for a largesse gift basket for Their Majesties Calontir to give to their recipient kingdom.  It didn't have to be big.  But it did have to be neat.

So, given that my mundane job has taken up much of my spare time (I'm actually writing this on a very rare snow day), it needed to be something that would work well.  The receiving kingdom is currently in a dual reign: 14th century English, and early Muromachi-period Japan (which corresponds to about the 14th century through the 16th century at the late end).  While this complicated things, it also gave me some ideas.

You see, I found those glass veil pins from the 12th century (with similar ones made in the mid-14th century that were excavated in London).  And purchased some more wire and played.  The wire I purchased is not what I wanted to use: it's coated copper wire, which  was scraped off when I sanded the pins into shape, but, I'm otherwise pleased.  They're a bit big for veil pins, but there are other things to use pins for, including attaching items to clothing and to act as decorative items.

I will hopefully have a tutorial on how to make these soon, once I have someone who can photograph me making the pins themselves.  (operating a camera with hot glass is not recommended.)

There are more projects to come - I just have to have the right items picked up for those, including a duo of diamond point engraved goblets, which there will be a tutorial on, as well.

But, I have go sharpen brass to make some new veil pins - maybe some for my etsy shop!