The Middle Ages seems to have had as strong a taste for gewgaws and costume jewelry as any period of history. One expression of this desire for glitzy personal decoration was the large number of small brooches meant to hold charms (in the sense of charm bracelets), religious items, and other small pendants - and the pendants themselves. Here is a representative collection of these items paired together.

No enlarged picture for this one! See the individual items for blow-ups.

When you order charms and hangers for them, we supply pewter S-hooks to attach them to each other. Let us know if you would like us to do the connecting (and what goes with what!).

Belt Fittings   Pilgrim Signs & Religious Goods   Brooches & Pendants •   Decorative •   Amatory •   Heraldic •   Martial •   Hard to Explain •   Charm Holders •   Pendants •   Carnival Brooches •   Custom Jobs   Household Goods, Toys, etc.   Billy and Charlie   Order Now!   Click on any image for a larger picture!           Belt Fittings   Pilgrim Signs & Religious Goods   Brooches & Pendants •   Decorative •   Amatory •   Martial •   Hard to Explain •   Charm Holders •   Pendants •   Carnival Brooches •   Custom Jobs   Household Goods, Toys, etc.   Billy and Charlie   Order Now!   Click on any image for a larger picture!

The Charm Holder with a Flower exists in numerous examples, including two in our collection. BR-12 Charm Holder with a Flower $3.00 1 x 5/8" or 25 x 17mm * van Beuningen, no. 706, 991, 993, etc.; Cluny, no.435-453 The 15th century original of the Hand of God Charm Holder is a sew-on pilgrim sign; we have adapted it as a brooch. The authentic one was found with a little tower, probably a sign of Saint Barbara, hanging from it. BR-15 Hand of God Charm Holder $3.00 7/8 x 3/4" or 21 x 15mm # van Beuningen, no. 46     The original of the Fleur de Lis Charm Holder is at Salisbury and dates from the first half of the 15th century. BR-29 Fleur de Lis Charm Holder $3.00 7/8 x 5/8" or 24 x 16mm * Salisbury, no. 291 The Rose Charm Holder is copied from several examples in the Musee de Cluny. BR-28 Rose Charm Holder $3.00 plain, $4.00 painted 1 x 3/4" or 27 x 20mm * Cluny, no. 474-477     Merman Charm Holder. This warlike sea-dweller is copied from a Netherlandish example from the first half of the 15th century. BR-14 Merman Charm Holder $5.00 * van Beuningen, no. 601 The Charm Holder in the Form of a Wreath is an adaptation of the idea of a brooch from which to suspend any small object. BR-13 Charm Holder in the Form of a Wreath $3.00 7/8 x 5/8" or 24 x 17mm Members of the SCA may be interested as well in our Pelican brooch.