I'm working on some hoods and had the brilliant idea that I'd like to put pendants / spangles on them, as I was quite sure they were popular in a late 14th- early 15th C. context. I have some nifty stamped-brass leaves and other little do-das, and I was going to sew them onto the hoods near the bottom of the mantle.

I had gotten this bright idea once before - that's why I have the do-das- and thought "I need to find documentation for it before I go and do it". I thought for sure I had seen something about clothing pendants in one of the MOL books, but I've been looking for an hour and can't track anything down. I can't even seem to find the pilgrim mantle I thought was in there somewhere. All I can find is spangles on belts and other leather goods, and that's quite another thing.

So here's the question for anyone up on late 14th- early 15th C. stuff- does anyone have documentation for sewing stamped metal pendants (spangles) to articles of clothing, like hats and hoods. Since I'm fairly sure it was done and since I've already done the speculative "I've seen it somewhere", I need an actual documentable source.

Thanks-

"Medieval European Jewellery", by R. Lightbown.
I don't have this book, so a few pictures would be helpful so I could get an idea of placement, shape, etc. Thanks for the offer. You could send them to me direct if its easier for you.

So is the word I'm looking for "bezants"? Maybe that's why I wasn't finding anything. Is a "bezant" a pendant/dangly sort of thing, because that's what I'm thinking of.

Making them is not too difficult- simple hammering, but cutting them out if they have complex shapes can be quite time consuming
I admit that I'm cheating and using the inexpensive, commercially available stamped charms. Luckily, I can find leaves and all sorts of other medievaloid shapes that are pretty close to right. I'm doing them for Pennsic, and most of those folks are happy with "close enough".

Gwen