Lot 306A
Northern Europe, Scandinavia, Viking Age, ca. 9th to 11th century CE. A potent symbol of protection and divine might, this Viking Thor's hammer pendant embodies both martial power and masterful artistry. Cast in silver and adorned with rich gilding, the amulet takes the form of Mjolnir, the thunder god's famed weapon - feared by giants and revered by Norsemen from fjords to forests. The shaft flares boldly into an angular hammerhead, its silhouette unmistakably sacred. Where its flat planes might have rested bare, the surface instead bursts with intricate embellishment. Gilt silver filigree - fine twisted wire laid in precise arcs - curls across the head of the hammer in symmetrical arrangements. Granulated beads, meticulously applied, punctuate the design with golden dots of texture and light, creating a decorative field that glints softly with age-warmed luster. A trefoil motif stamped at the neck may echo symbols of trinity or fertility, hallmarks of continuity in Viking iconography. Size: 0.8" W x 1.3" H (2 cm x 3.3 cm); silver quality: 91.2%; weight: 8.1 grams
The pendant's reverse remains undecorated, its simplicity contrasting the elaborate front. A sturdy suspension loop sits atop, once allowing this amulet to be worn against the chest, close to the heart - a daily invocation of strength and spiritual allegiance.
Mjolnir pendants such as this were powerful cultural expressions in a time of shifting beliefs. As Christianity spread through the Norse world, these hammers stood as quiet affirmations of ancestral gods and enduring traditions. To wear one was not merely an act of faith - it was an act of defiance, resilience, and identity.
Provenance: ex-T.F. Holy Lands collection, formed since the 1960s; ex-private UK collection; ex-Vienna, Austria collection, before 2000
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#195328
- Condition: Some minor nicks, but otherwise, intact, excellent, and wearable with good remains of decoration and gilding.
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