Viking Bronze Brooch – Bird – Pin Missing 10th-12th C

Description

Heading: Viking Bronze brooch – 10th-12th Century

Material: Bronze

Period: Viking/Early medieval

Date: 10th to 12th century

Origin: Northern Europe

Condition: Fine+, with dark patina

Description: Modelled in profile, this lovely bird brooch has a tripartite crest, triangular wing and splayed feet; a catch-plate and pin lug are present on the reverse, but sadly the pin is missing which is the usual situation with ferrous attachments.

Size and Weight: 38mm, 11g

Reference: cf A. Pedersen’s Early Bird Shaped Brooches, p19-66 fig 22 for similar; Hammond, British Artefacts – Vol 3 item 1.1.3-d

Bird brooches from the late Viking era have been found in Scandinavia as well as English Danelaw and was obviously a popular motif as they are found right up until the early Norman period. 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 or symbol 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