Viking Brooch 12th-15th Century

Description

Heading: Viking jewellery – Viking Brooch

Material: Bronze (copper alloy) and shell

Period: Viking eras 

Date: 12th to 15th centuries

Origin: Northern Europe/Mordvinian areas

Condition: VF with nice dark patina. springs and shells remain on two lugs

Description: Viking jewellery – Penannular omega brooch with long solid. decorated triangular flanges. decoration is made up of dots. pierced lugs to the edges to carry decorative wire dangles. in this case two engraved shells are still attached; a pin is in place to the annular area.

Size and Weight: 57mm x41mm. 18.06g

Features and Provenance: This type of Viking brooch – also known as an omega brooch – would probably have been worn on the shirt at the neck or to attach other lighter garments. These brooches evolved to become quite elaborate. with dangling springs from the edges as has our example. and were often worn in pairs. In this late Viking period their coins demonstrated Russian and Byzantine influences and this would have also shown in their art and jewellery too.

The Vikings were great traders; they are often maligned as nothing more than Scandinavian thugs. but nothing could be further from the truth. The range of their trade-goods was extensive – this included slaves. Norsemen never referred to themselves as Vikings as it was an old Norse word meaning ‘adventure and trade’ this ensued from their ‘vanderlyst’. Viking did however. enter English lexicons in the 18th century. but even then it was only meant to refer to ‘a Scandinavian.’

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