Description
Material: Bronze
Period: Viking/Early medieval
Date: 10th to 11th century
Origin: Scandinavia to western Finno-Ugric regions
Condition: Fine+. with dark patina
Description: A discoid bronze pendant with openwork. stylised beast enmeshed in tendrils. suspension loop above
Size and Weight: 38mm. 6.48g
Features and Provenance: From a US collection
This superb pendant of a stylised beast. is considered to have originated from the Northern Europe or western Finno-Ugric language region. As great travellers. the Vikings collected items of value and smaller trinkets for trade. It is known that decorative mounts were recycled as jewellery when the original purpose was over; being traded as an amulet and pendants as symbols of achievement. Viking wanderlust made them 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. Norsemen never referred to themselves as Vikings as it was an old Norse word meaning ‘adventure and trade’. It 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
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