sister_raphael | Medieval Wedding Circlet

Medieval wedding circlet based on artwork from the 14th century

I love making things and I wanted to make a little something for a young friend who had recently married. I just couldn't decide what, exactly. Something she didn't already have. Clearly, more bling was the answer, but what kind of bling?

I pondered for exactly 5 seconds before I knew that a circlet was the answer! Something hand made and a little bit special. I had a few bits and pieces already, but could I make something nice? I was going to try!

First I gathered my tools and looked at the base items. I silver circlet, gold-plated roses and freshwater pearls. I already had a plan to attach the roses with pins through the pearls and roses and bend the backs over, which is a reasonably medieval technique. I felt that some colour was in need, and remembering that the young lady has a gorgeous orange silk kirtle, decided a deep orangy red carnelian would make a nice contrast to the silver and gold and match her dress also.

The pins have large, flat heads on them to secure the pearls and carnelians. Here's what the underneath of them look like when they're waiting to be added. I carefully punched evenly-spaced indentations with a hammer and nail then drilled the holes into the circlet itself. Nail-biting stuff as I was anxious about scratching the silver circlet.

Once the holes were drilled, I poked the pins through and bent the backs over which is harder than it sounds, believe me. They need to be really folded down or the roses and carnelians on the front sort of sag sadly.

Once that was achieved, I glued the band to the inside so the back of the pins don't snag on the veil and scratch the young lady's head. I'm really pleased with the results, and have another similar-but-different one in silver to make for myself