Northern Europe, Scandinavia, Viking or Norse culture, ca. 9th century CE. A fantastic example of a petite, hammer-shaped pendant depicting Mjolnir, the mythical weapon of the Norse god of thunder Thor. Formed from 85% silver, the attractive pendant features a triangular head with several geometric forms stamped into both faces, a narrowing shoulder, and a stocky handle with a perforated pommel. The hammer hangs from a twisted suspension ring formed from 96.6% silver with coiled terminals, and the entire accessory is displayed on a modern necklace strand. Layers of russet patina cover the entire hammer and ring while sage green patina accentuates the recessed motifs along both faces. An exquisite piece of wearable jewelry from the ancient North! Size (hammer): 0.8" W x 1" H (2 cm x 2.5 cm); 1.5" H (3.8 cm) w/ ring; (ring): 0.55" W x 0.625" H (1.4 cm x 1.6 cm); (necklace): 22.25" L (56.5 cm); quality of silver: 85% for hammer, 96.6% for ring; total weight: 7.9 grams

Small Thor's hammers were worn as religious amulets throughout the Viking era, usually made of silver and usually hung on silver chains. Silver was the principal currency of the Viking world, which stretched from Russia to northern Canada at the height of their influence. In many places, the Vikings kept silver not as coins, but as jewelry, a wearable currency form that was not subject to the authority of a monarch or mint. One of the most common archaeological finds from the Viking period is a hoard of metal objects, often buried in the earth or deposited in bodies of water, like riverbeds. These are found in great quantities throughout the British Isles and the Nordic countries.

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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#164133

Wearable as shown. Silver hammer and suspension ring are ancient, and necklace cord is modern. Hammer and ring likely professionally cleaned. Minor abrasions and light encrustations to hammer and ring, with softening to some stamped motifs on hammer, otherwise intact and excellent. Wonderful patina throughout.