Lot 45
Northern Europe, Viking / Norse culture, ca. late 9th to mid 10th century CE. An incredible silver filigree pendant, made from sheet silver, in an anthropomorphized bird form with a human-like face at the top, his flowing beard joining with the swirls of the bird's chest. Granulated silver forms the symmetrical swirls and loops inside of the bird's body, as well as internal texture on the wing surfaces and top of the head. The top of the head is a long, hollow cylinder, forming a loop for suspension. The back of the pendant is undecorated, hammered into a slightly concave form. Could this be Huginn or Muninn, Odin's ravens? Birds are some of the most common animal motifs from Viking art, which often depict somewhat abstract zoomorphs. Huginn and Muninn, whose role was to bring information to Odin, may have been the inspiration for much of this artwork. Size: 1.5" L x 1" W (3.8 cm x 2.5 cm); 5.2 grams
The style closely resembles that of the famous silver Thor's Hammer found at Skane, Sweden, and is in the Borre Style, which often features human-like masks on animal bodies. This style was widespread, with examples found from Iceland to Russia. The vast reach of the style is a testament to the shared culture of the geographically disparate Viking world, which included a complex mythology populated by gods and goddesses.
Provenance: private New York, USA collection
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#128417
- Condition: Tiny loss on bottom of one wing. Slight bending to form from age, with very nice ancient patina, especially on the back. A few small losses to granules on one wing. Cord shown in photograph is not included.
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