Lot 68
Northern Europe, Scandinavia, Viking culture, ca. 9th to 11th century CE. A boldly woven relic of Viking-era craftsmanship, this braided silver bracelet captures the martial elegance and practical wealth of Norse society. Fashioned from six thick silver wires twisted in alternating loops to form a broad, flexible band, the piece exudes both strength and ornament - a duality central to Viking ideals of adornment and utility. The terminals are rounded and neatly flattened, leaving the bracelet open-ended in classic cuff form, designed to flex around the wrist of a warrior or merchant navigating the volatile economies of the medieval North. Size of opening: 1" W (2.5 cm); of bracelet: 2.9" L x 2.3" W (7.4 cm x 5.8 cm); silver quality: 75.4%; weight: 45.5 grams
Cast in a silver alloy comprising approximately 75.4% silver, 22.2% copper, and 2.35% lead, this piece reflects the metallurgical realities of its time. While many Viking silver hoards contain objects of purer silver, this alloy composition is consistent with recycled bullion or locally refined silver, often used in peripheral workshops or in periods of diminished access to Islamic dirhams. Such pieces were prized not only for their beauty but also as portable currency, part of a weight-based system of trade that spanned the North Sea, Baltic, and Volga River routes.
Woven bracelets like this are found throughout Viking settlements, from the British Isles to Gotland, and often emerge from hoards interred during times of conflict or transition. Their dense, tactile forms evoke the braiding of hair, rope, or fate - a theme woven as tightly into Norse mythology as into this precious metal.
Provenance: private Dayton, Maryland, USA collection; ex-private F. B. collection, Maryland, USA, acquired via Artemis Gallery, Louisville, Colorado, USA in January 2018; ex-Orange County, California, USA collection
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#195830
- Condition: Wearable as shown. Expected age-commensurate surface wear, light tarnishing, slight bending to overall form, otherwise intact and choice. Lovely rainbow hues, with green and blue-green patina in recessed areas.
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