Viking Silver Decorated Pin With Poppy Seed-Head Finial 10th-11th Century

Description

Heading : Viking Silver Decorated Pin With Poppy Seed Head Finial. 10th-11th Century
Material: Silver
Period: Viking
Date: 10th to 11th century
Origin: Scandinavian
Condition: Very Fine
Description: 
Size and Weight: 11cm. 6.23g

References: Hardh. B. Silver in the Viking Age. 1996

Features and Provenance: Brooches had been the principal means to fasten cloaks and clothes during Roman and most of the Saxon period. During the late Saxon era. pins of base metal were introduced and generally used by women to secure a cloak and indeed their hair. With the arrival of Norse culture. the use of the pin became more widespread and they were made of silver with ornate ends and used by both men and women. This modestly decorated example. has a ‘Poppy Seed-Head’ type finial and was a typical form of decoration and could be bent if necessary.

Condition Summary. This varies with the age of the artefact and there are grades between

Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear. all parts of pattern etc present. visible and clear

Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of pattern etc present. but may be worn

Fine (F). Wear on the artefact and parts of item and pattern etc may be missing or not visible