Viking Knot Pendant 9th-11th Century

Description

Heading : Viking Knot Pendant. 9th-11th Century
Material: One-time silvered base metal or silver alloy
Period: Viking
Date: 9th to 11th century
Origin: Scandinavia
Condition: VF. grey patina. loop still intact but holed
Description: Openwork triquetra pendant with beaded band. ribbed attachment loop. plain back
Size and Weight: 58mm x 26mm. 14g
Features and Provenance: The interwoven knot or triquetra means three cornered and has been used by many peoples in many ways as far back as the 4th century BC. It is uncertain what the image meant to the Vikings. but it may have symbolised a trinity of either land. sea and sky or birth. life and death. and have been intended as a protective or good luck charm. The form has also been used by Anatolians. Persians. Celts and Christians. so it was a natural progression for Vikings to reinvent an existing Pagan symbol but with a new meaning as they moved to Christianity. It was used on Norse coins from about 1047.

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