Lot 52
Northern Europe, Scandinavia, Viking or Norse culture, ca. 8th to 10th century CE. A gorgeous necklace formed from silver covered with lustrous patina. The lengthy necklace strand is shaped with several braided strands of 97.6% silver wire that coalesce in fused terminals with narrow loops, and through each loop is a twisted ringlet bearing several stamped geometric shapes. A broad 80.5% silver bracteate pendant features a trio of protruding hemispherical nodules surrounded by double-ended spirals, lemniscate forms, hammered circles, and triangular impressions with recessed stippling. Three miniature amulets hang beneath the lower periphery of the pendant and include a petaloid dagger with a corseted handle, a triangular spade blade with circular motifs, and a diminutive Mjolnir hammer. A suspension ring on the verso enables the pendant to be hung via the ringlets on the necklace strand. Size (pendant w/ amulets): 2.2" Diameter x 3.25" H (5.6 cm x 8.3 cm); (necklace): 29" L (73.7 cm); quality of silver: 97.6% (chain) and 80.5% (pendant); total weight: 148.2 grams
Many Vikings did not have a standard minted currency available to them; instead they kept their wealth in the form of jewelry made from precious metals. Scholars believe that a popular practice was to amass a hoard of these objects and then deposit them, often in water sources like rivers.
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private Kaliningrad (Koenigsberg) and then Latvia collection; found on the Baltic Sea coast prior to 1982
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#160718
- Condition: Wearable as shown. Slight bending to overall form of pendant and amulets, with light encrustations inside some recessed areas, and light abrasions, otherwise intact and near-choice. Fabulous patina throughout and great preservation to stamped motifs.
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