RELATED OBJECTS


"Agulha e Dedal"
"Ago e Ditale"
"Needle and Thimble"

A scene from the famous Portuguese film "Canção de Lisboa" trans*(Lisbon Song) which depicts a situation of Portuguese life from the first half of the twentieth century, this scene make reference to the needle and thimble, which together with the security pin are so characteristic of this Portuguese housewives time, and more specifically, as the character who appears singing in this scene, the seamstresses.

more info about the film click Here

NOWADAYS

The object we call safety pin today with its most common form emerged in 1849 created by Walter Hunt, who then, sold his patent to pay a debt to a friend. However after sold his patent to company W.R. Grace and Co. made ​​millions of dolllars profit with its invention.

Ancient Times


Bronze disc-type safety pin 10th century b.C.


Bronze fibula (safety pin) with amber segments 7th–6th century b.C.

                                                    Villanovan Bronze safety pin with four ducks from 900 b.C.

Gold sanguisuga-type safety pin from 7th century b.C.

Etruscan Bronze sanguisuga-type safety pin from 710–675 b.C.

                                         
                                          Ancient Greece, 5th-4th century b.C.bronze  44 mm  long

                                  Ancient Greece, c. 4th - 2nd century BC. bronze 50 mm long                                        

                                  Other Greek and Etruscan valeu examples: (unknown date)

How old are Safety Pins?

Despite the patent of Security Pin being attributed to Walter Hunt by in 1849 it is known that this object were already used by the Etruscans in the century. IX b.C. to hold his clothes.
                                                          

ETIMOLOGY

Safety Pin:

The word Pin, comes form the late old english word, pinn "peg, bolt,"
before 1100, Middle English pinne, Old English pinn  peg; cognate with Dutch pin, German Pinne, Old Norse pinni and  perhaps from Latin pinna  (feather, quill).
In dictionary:

Pin;

1.
a small, slender, often pointed piece of wood or metal,  used to fasten, support, or attach things.
2.
a short, slender piece of wire with a point at one end and a head at the other, for fastening things together.
3.
any of various forms of fasteners or ornaments consisting essentially or partly of a pointed or penetrating wire or shaft (often used in combination): a jeweled pin.
4.
a badge having a pointed bar or pin attached, by which it is fastened to the clothing.


Safety pin;

1.
a pin bent back on itself to form a spring, with a guard to cover the point.

Safety;

1.

the state of being safe; freedom from the occurrence or risk of injury, danger, or loss.

2.

the quality of averting or not causing injury, danger, or loss.

3.

a contrivance or device to prevent injury or avert danger.

Safety was an adjective, added to the word Pin, in order to identify one of its characteristics, provide security to (something).

Safety Pin in different languages:

Portuguese - alfinete de dama
Italian - spilla di balia
French - épingle de sûreté
Spanish - imperdible
Greek - παραμάνα
Hindi - सेफ्टीपिन
Arabic - دبوس أمان
Chinese - 安全别针
Japanese - 安全ピン

Spilla di Balia - Security Pin - Alfinete de Ama

This blog serves to provide all data about my research that focuses on the object: Security Pin, for the discipline of History of the Things.