Description:

Northern Europe, Viking or Norse culture, ca. 800 to 1100 CE. A fine example of a silver Thor's Hammer pendant, stamped all over both faces with triangles containing three raised pellets, a classic Viking design motif. At the top, as the silver tapers, the pendant is folded over to create a suspension loop. A silver ring with its ends twisted together is hooked through the loop. Size of hammer (loop omitted): 1.4" W x 1.8" H (3.6 cm x 4.6 cm); 28.3 g.

Small Thor's hammers were worn as religious amulets throughout the Viking era, usually made of silver and usually hung on silver chains. They have been found in silver hoards throughout the areas of Viking influence in the North Atlantic and Scandinavia. Some even made it to the Christian era - there is a famous example of a Thor's hammer amulet from Fossi, Iceland, that has been turned into a cross. Scholars believe that Thor's hammers were made to be worn suspended from brooches, and most of those we know from graves in Scandinavia belonged to women. However, a silver example was found in a male burial at Repton, in northern England, alongside two beads and located at the neck - so people of both sexes wore them, and they seem to have been integrated into a variety of jewelry pieces.

Provenance: private New York USA collection

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#124283

  • Condition: Rod shown in photograph not included. Slight patina/tarnish.

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June 28, 2017 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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