Ring Brooches

These brooches are curiously underused by re-enactors, but we are here to explain how to use them, and to show you the beautiful examples among our goods. Lightbown says that the various words used for brooches in the Middle Ages – monile, nusca, fermail, broche, vorspan, etc. – were not used consistently in a way that distinguished between ring brooches and brooches where the pin was behind the jewel. You may have heard or seen ring brooches called “annular brooches.” This is archeological jargon, and it is correct, although we usually call them by a more obviously English name.

How do you put them on? I’m glad you asked! The ring brooch is circular, with the pin hooked around the ring. To wear a ring brooch purely for decorative purposes, you reach down through the ring and pinch a bit of the fabric of your garment. Pull it up through the ring. Then ease the tip of the pin through the fabric – you will find that as everything straightens out the ring brooch is pulled nice and flat against the fabric. To use the brooch to close your shirt or chemise, just place it where the two sides come together and pull through a bit of fabric from each side – easy peasy!

Please ask for a copy of our ring brooch “broochure” if you would like to review or share more information about them. Or download your own copy. And do review our “how to” blog on putting on a ring brooch.