The
Birsay Disc Collection
Sheila Fleet Jewelry
Made in Scotland
Inspired by a small lead disc found on the Brough of Birsay in Orkney. The Brough, a small tidal island, supported a thriving metalworking industry from the 7th to the late 8th century. A rich array of brooches, rings & dresspins were found - jewelry for the prosperous Pictish community on the Mainland. This type of design pre-dates the 7th century. The trumpet spiral derives from the vine scrolls on classical Greek pottery, a technique adopted by the Celtic tribes who came into contact with the classical world in the centuries before Christ. Such spirals became a prominent feature of La Tene art & passed into the repertoire of British art of the 6th, 7th & 8th centuries. |
