Details

COLEM:1963.569.7

Colchester Collections

pin, hat pin

Hat pin decorated with an amethyst in a gilt setting. Hatpins were originally designed to be used in pairs to fasten a women's hat to her hair. They became increasingly popular during the Victorian period as the fashion for bonnets gave way to hats. Amethysts were one of the more popular gemstones in this period.This hatpin is included in the Mythical Creatures exhibition as part of the dragon's hoard. According to some legends, dragons were known for hoarding treasure and they especially had a love of gold. This originated in early medieval stories. One account from the poem Beowulf describes the theft of a golden cup from a dragon’s hoard. The dragon, in anger at their treasure being stolen, destroyed the nearby town.

Modern

silver, gold, amethyst

length: 173.00 mm
width: 19.20 mm