Description:

Northern Europe, Scandinavia, Viking or Norse culture, ca. 8th to 10th century CE. A superb ring of wearable form that is shaped from a single sheet of 86.8% gold. The exterior surfaces of the accessory were first stamped or hammered with repeating triangular patterning, and the terminals are narrowed slightly before being shaped over a mandrel. Many Vikings did not have a standard minted currency available to them, and so instead kept their wealth in the form of jewelry made from precious metals. A common practice seems to have been to amass a hoard of these objects and then deposit them, often in water sources like rivers. Gold rings - like all gold objects - were rare and are only found in graves of the highest status. Size: 0.44" L x 0.83" W x 0.84" H (1.1 cm x 2.1 cm x 2.1 cm); gold quality: 86.8% (equivalent to 20K+); weight: 8.9 grams; US ring size: 9

Scholars believe that a popular practice was to amass a hoard of these precious objects and then deposit them, often in water sources like rivers. Gold rings - like all gold objects - were apparently quite rare, only found in graves of the highest status. In pagan Viking culture gold rings were used to swear oaths on and as markers of the godi, members of the Thing (governing assembly); some scholars have speculated that their deposition in hoards was an attempt to save them from violation with the coming sweep of Christianity.

Provenance: private London, UK collection; ex-private UK collection, from an old British collection formed in the 1990s

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

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#188439

  • Condition: Professionally cleaned in modern times, otherwise intact and excellent. Great preservation to hammered motifs, and nice luster throughout.

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August 16, 2024 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000