Northern Europe, Viking / Norse culture, ca. 10th century CE. A heavy, gorgeous silver pendant and woven chain. The pendant is round with an applied, squared-off strip of silver used to create a loop for suspension on one side. The face of the pendant has been stamped so that it has five raised, round bosses that form a square with raised corners and a boss in its center. The face with the raised bosses is stamped repeatedly with circles and triangles with circles inside of them, a very common Viking motif, the meaning of which remains unknown. The pendant is held in place by silver wires wrapped around each other to form a ring and two additional, smaller wire circles that hold each end of the chain. The chain is composed of repeated flat bands of silver formed into open rectilinear shapes. Size: 24" L x 2.1" W (61 cm x 5.3 cm); 121.9 grams

This necklace was most likely recovered from a hoard. 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. These are found in great quantities throughout the British Isles and the Nordic countries. What was the meaning of such hoards? Were they treasures buried for safe keeping, perhaps by people fleeing violence who did not wish to travel with heavy loads and who died or forgot before they could retrieve them? Or does their presence in rivers suggest votive deposits, gifts and offerings to spirits who lived in the water?

Provenance: private New York, USA collection

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#124272

Patina on surface, in places dark, with expected wear from age and handling. Edges of pendant are slightly bent, so that it is not fully round. Much great detail remains.