CLOTHING & JEWELLERY
Early Bronze Age - Gold
The earliest gold ornaments made in Ireland are Gold Discs and Lunula. They are both made from very thin flat sheets of gold which has been cut into shape.
Gold Discs are also called Sun Discs. They were made by hammering a piece of gold until it became very flat and thin. This gold foil was then cut into a circular shape. Sun Discs were decorated with designs using a technique called repousse. Respousse is where a design is made by punching into the metal from the back so that on the front of the metal the design stands up in relief.
Two holes were punched into the centre. These were used to tie the disc onto clothes or hair so that it could be worn. The Gold Disc from Teldavnet is probably the most impressive of all gold discs. It has a cruciform design in the centre with concentric circles at the edges.
The earliest gold ornaments made in Ireland are Gold Discs and Lunula. They are both made from very thin flat sheets of gold which has been cut into shape.
Gold Discs are also called Sun Discs. They were made by hammering a piece of gold until it became very flat and thin. This gold foil was then cut into a circular shape. Sun Discs were decorated with designs using a technique called repousse. Respousse is where a design is made by punching into the metal from the back so that on the front of the metal the design stands up in relief.
Two holes were punched into the centre. These were used to tie the disc onto clothes or hair so that it could be worn. The Gold Disc from Teldavnet is probably the most impressive of all gold discs. It has a cruciform design in the centre with concentric circles at the edges.
Lunula
These were made by firstly hammering a piece of gold into a flat sheet. The cresent shape was then cut out. Lunula were usually decorated with chevron (zig-zag) design using a technique called ‘Incision’ where the design was cut directly into the front of the metal using a sharp tool. The lunula was to be worn around the neck like a collar and tied at the back by twisting the wide paddles against each other. More tha 80 Lunula have been found in Ireland. Ross Co Westmeath is believed to be one of the best preserved examples.
Lunula, Ross Co Westmeath. This collar has chevrons incised into the narrow upper part and an incised border around the edges part
In 2010 the National Museum of Ireland discovered a find of early Bronze Age Irish Art. A pair of Gold Discs and a large lunula from Co Roscommon. This important discovery made headline news.
These were made by firstly hammering a piece of gold into a flat sheet. The cresent shape was then cut out. Lunula were usually decorated with chevron (zig-zag) design using a technique called ‘Incision’ where the design was cut directly into the front of the metal using a sharp tool. The lunula was to be worn around the neck like a collar and tied at the back by twisting the wide paddles against each other. More tha 80 Lunula have been found in Ireland. Ross Co Westmeath is believed to be one of the best preserved examples.
Lunula, Ross Co Westmeath. This collar has chevrons incised into the narrow upper part and an incised border around the edges part
In 2010 the National Museum of Ireland discovered a find of early Bronze Age Irish Art. A pair of Gold Discs and a large lunula from Co Roscommon. This important discovery made headline news.