Product Description
12th Century Viking Omega Brooch. This type of brooch - also known as an omega brooch - would probably have been worn on the shirt at the neck or to attach other lighter garments. These brooches evolved to become quite elaborate, with dangling springs from the edges as has our example, and were often worn in pairs. In this late Viking period their coins demonstrated Russian and Byzantine influences and this would have also shown in their art and jewellery too.
Viking wanderlust made them great traders; they are often maligned as nothing more than Scandinavian thugs, but nothing could be further from the truth. The range of their trade-goods was extensive - and included slaves. Norsemen never referred to themselves as Vikings as it was an old Norse word meaning 'adventure and trade'. It did however, enter English lexicons in the 18th century, but even then it was only meant to refer to 'a Scandinavian.'
Viking jewellery and ornaments accompanied by geometric interlace of knots and patterns. Brooches were worn by both genders, men commonly wore one on their right shoulder while women wore two brooches to fasten their shawls, one on each shoulder.
Viking bronze omega penannular brooches, featuring two trapezoidal plate finials each with a granulated geometric design . The brooches all feature a free-moving pin, which sits vertically across the length of the brooch. The pin is attached via a loop to the penannular hoop. The brooches feature flat, unworked reverses.
Cord - end to end is 20"
Brooch - 1.25" x 2"
