Viking Early Medieval Mordvinian Type Brooch 12th Century

Description

Heading : Viking Early Medieval Era. Mordvinian Type Brooch. 12th Century
Material: Bronze
Period: Viking/Early Medieval
Date: 11th to 12th century
Origin: Northern Europe with Russian influences
Condition: VF. grey patina
Description: 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. pin in place to annular area
Size and Weight: 55mm x 40mm. 26g

Features and Provenance: This type of 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.

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 – and included slaves. 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