Frankish Pin with Lapis, retailer Malachite, and Black Obsidian

This bronze brooch is based on a 7th century Frankish brooch on display in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is set with dark blue lapis and solid green malachite surrounding a clear black obsidian. It is 5 cm across with a pin on the back.

I really like this brooch because, while it is based on a 7th century piece, it could easily be worn in later periods.
This is one of my favourite style pieces. I often wear one of these brooches to close the neck of my tunic, but I also like it on my hat.

5% GST is already included in the price of all Canadian sales.

The Franks are historically first known as a group of Germanic tribes that inhabited the land between retailer the Lower and Middle Rhine in the 3rd century AD, and second as the people of Gaul, passing on their name to modern-day France. In the Middle Ages, the term Frank was used in the east as a synonym for western European, as the Franks were then rulers of most of Western Europe.

(The original that inspired this piece is shown in the pictures. It is one of several of this same style that I've seen.)