**Originally Listed At $300**

Northern Europe, Viking/Norse culture, ca. 1000 CE. A fine cast bronze penannular brooch in a classic Viking style. The body is a bronze open ring, cast to appear as twisted strands, wider in the center, and tapering in size to two large, rounded terminals. The terminals have incised concentric circles on their face, a pattern thought to ward against the evil eye. A delicate pin is wrapped around the ring, able to move freely, that is designed to hook between the two terminals for closure. This item would have been worn in the manner it is displayed in the photograph, securing warm, probably wool clothing. Comes with custom stand. Size: 2.1" W x 2.25" H (5.3 cm x 5.7 cm); height on stand: 2.8" (7.1 cm)

The Vikings - groups of people who left Scandinavia to plunder and colonize northern Europe (and who travelled as far afield as northeastern North America and the great kingdoms of the Middle East) - had a distinctive artistic tradition, although many of the metals that they had were acquired through conquest and the bronze for this brooch likely was melted down from other bronze objects, perhaps some acquired by looting a monastery or trading in the Mediterranean. Bronze jewelry also served as a form of easily transported coinage; this piece would have spoken to the wealth of its owner.

Provenance: private Orange County, California, USA collection

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#124846

Patina over surface. Small areas of corrosion and loss on the pin, but it remains attached to the ring.