Description:

Northern Europe, Viking, ca. 9th-10th century CE. Of circular form with hexagonal knob terminals raised vertically to display blue glass inlay. The pin is of straight round section wire, curling once around the ring. The pin is still sharp and the piece could be worn today. The style of the brooch suggests that it came from Scandinavia rather than the Viking colonies in the British Isles (where Celtic art had greatly influenced Viking and led to the creation of extremely ornate pieces); however, given the scope of travel and trade in the Viking world, it could have come from very far afield. The silver it is fashioned from almost certainly came from melted down Arabic dirhams, the silver currency that fueled much of the Viking economy. A brooch like this one would have been used to fashion the ubiquitous clothing item, the cloak, that helped the Vikings live in cold, wet climates. Size: 2-1/4" x 3" x 1/4".

Provenance: Ex-H. J. Berk Gallery, Chicago, IL.

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#110325

  • Provenance: Expected patina and tarnish, but otherwise intact and wearable.

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October 22, 2015 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 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000