by Tess Machling
by Tess Machling [A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper] Introduction The recently published Snettisham hoard volumes are long awaited, and contain much that is of use and interest to anyone studying Iron Age Britain. However, as a gold researcher, working with a team of goldsmiths, silversmiths, jewellers and …
Continue reading "The Snettisham torcs and the British Museum"
by Tess Machling [A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper] This paper can be cited as: DOI 10.5281/zenodo.14193776 Introduction A few months ago, I received an email from Andrew Fitzpatrick, a fellow Iron Age specialist, regarding something he had seen in Christopher Tripp's book, Thurrock’s Deeper Past: a confluence of …
Continue reading "The mysterious case of the West Tilbury torc from Essex."
Hello folks! Long time no speak! I just wanted to write a very brief blog to say I haven't forgotten about the Staffordshire Torc Odyssey! I am awaiting access to the final torc, Glascote. Not at all the fault of anyone or the museum: they are undergoing a staged re-opening and so access is tricky …
Continue reading "The Staffordshire Torc Odyssey: 15 Not forgotten"
by Tess Machling & Giovanna Fregni [A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper] This paper can be cited as: DOI 10.5281/zenodo.13911434 Abstract In September 2024 a paper, ‘The Pulborough gold torc: a 4th to 3rd century BCE artefact of European significance’ was published by a British Museum team in …
Continue reading "Fake or fortunate? The insecure provenance of the ‘Pulborough Area’ torc."
by Tess Machling [A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper] This paper can be cited as: DOI 10.5281/zenodo.14548720 I've been meaning to write this piece for years, but a recent increase in the number of significant archaeological finds which have been removed from the ground, by folks with little …
Continue reading "Detecting and torcs: a researcher’s view."
Firstly, I must offer my grateful thanks to Kathryn Jones (Senior Curator of Decorative Arts), Karen Lawson (Images and rights manager) and the team at the Royal Collection Trust who have so generously allowed me to use my photographic images of the Needwood Forest torc - in publications and online - without charge. This is …
Continue reading "The Staffordshire Torc Odyssey: 14 Needwood Forest up close"
Hello torc fanciers, long time no see! Since I last wrote, I have been to see both the Middleton Hall and Needwood Forest torcs at the British Museum. I am awaiting permission to share the images of the Needwood Forest torc (as an item within the Royal Collection - despite being on loan to the …
Continue reading "The Staffordshire Torc Odyssey: 13 Middleton Hall up close"
Yesterday we lost a great person. A goldsmith of exceedingly rare talent and knowledge, Ford was generous and kind enough to share his insights and understanding with us. He was a part of The Torc Collective and he helped our research more than he probably ever realised. I will miss him greatly. I did thank …
Since I wrote the previous blog on Alrewas, there are a few extra things that have come up, so I thought I'd add an extra blog. Jump rings Firstly, Samantha Stanley, a jeweller contact from Twitter, usefully pointed out that the thick ring holding the torcs together might have been like a jump ring (a …
Continue reading "The Staffordshire Torc Odyssey: 12 Alrewas catch-up"
Last week, I was lucky enough to be able to go and see the Alrewas torc bundle up close. Before we go any further, I want to say a huge thank you to curator Joe Perry and the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-On-Trent. I highly recommend a visit to this wonderful museum: not …
Continue reading "The Staffordshire Torc Odyssey: 11 Alrewas up close"
