A coronette is the pinnacle of many boys and girls medieval dreams and in the SCA function a bit like a medal that you earn the rights to wear. It is a time consuming project but a fun one. I do prefer making these over the top projects rather than modern more discrete jewelry.
Above are three cast coronettes, to the left Utas in silver with lapis and garnets, in the middle mine and Elisabeths in bronze with lapis and onyx, jade and Pearls and to the right is Isabettas in silver with various stones on the base and emerald eyes. You might be surpriced to learn that Isabettas is the one closest to the original design with the main difference that it has dragonflies instead of eagles.
The main event when metalhats are concerned are the crowns of your kingdom. The new drachenwald crowns had to be adjustable to fit all, fold for travel, be sturdy to take punishment and look ivanhoeish to fit most peoples general idea of the medieval dream, and last but not least look like they belong to the rulers of our kingdom. Besides the enamel dragons and the glasspainted red forrest you also have the lower border inspired from the nordic 1000 turnament price.
They also need some pretty and practical boxes, Come as a matching set with no his or her version but enough parts to fit any head and spare parts for time to come.
Below is a coronette that I made for Gerhart, cast bronze, black enamel and red stones. The strawberry leaves are both functional hindges and hollowed out. It is much lighter than its massive apperance.
The benefits of a hindged coronette is travel and fit since it can change shape. It is also lighter and stronger than you might think. I have hit mine with a rattan sword and thrown it across a field with no visable marks or dents. This is due to the strong borders. The center plate is less than 0.7mm making it light. The silver ones are a bit heavier but easier to cast since it has a lower melting temperature and flows easier in a cold mold.
Here are some step by step Pictures of the bronze coronette being made, note the number of inperfect casts, thin bronze is hard to cast perfectly.
The most common way of making a coronette si starting with a plate of metal. Here are some step by step pictures of the pair of coronettes that I made for Björn and Wilja in Visby. Chosen as an example because they needed the implementation of a lot of different tecniques that I thought might be inspiering.
Down below are a few other assorted coronettes that I have made. Beginning with William and Filippas that where the first coronettes I ever made. (The ones in silver with lapis, onyx and Pearls) Then a oxidised silver one, a Stainless durable party coronette, a brass one with silver details and then yet another stainless one. You cannot build coronettes for your friend and forget about your kids.
