AoA Circlet Research 3 - Twisted Arm Rings from the Isle of Orkney

From the Hunterian Museum at the University of Glasgow --A Silver Hoard, The Skaill, Orkney

(most of the pieces on display are replicas of originals now in the Royal Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh)

In March 1858 a boy chasing a rabbit into a hole near Sandwick church close to Skara Brae found some fragments of silver kicked up by the rabbits. From the accompanying coins, and also from the style of ornament, the hoard has been dated to about AD 950. The characteristic patterns of interlaced S shaped animals are known as the Jellinge style, from a Danish royal site where similar patterns are found.

The silver ornaments at Skaill may well have been made in the Isle of Man. Such large silver brooches are common in the English Scandinavian areas but are otherwise unknown from Scotland.

Replica of one complete armlet formed of interlaced wires with a plain section having imitation terminals of a penannular ring, formed into open-jawed animals.

Replica of a larger, incomplete, twisted ring

Fragment of a one of the larger silver twisted rings from the hoard; with a plain flat terminal ending in a hook; it appears to have been split into wires for twisting


So, ah ha! I say... The theory has hope of being correct. It seems they did twist metal wires to get this effect!