Northern Europe, Scandinavia, Viking or Norse culture, ca. 9th to 10th century CE. A stunning bracteate pendant formed from 97.5% silver consisting of a hammered discoid body with a beaded filigree border and a folded suspension loop adorned with a trio of granular trapezoids. Hundreds of petite silver granules are arranged in registers of repeating trapezoids and triangles surrounding a large, encircled sphere. Pendants like this one were made to be worn around the neck as a type of amulet or sewn onto clothing and were frequently made of melted down coinage traded north from the Mediterranean. A gorgeous example enveloped in smooth patina. Size (pendant): 1.3" W x 1.75" H (3.3 cm x 4.4 cm); (necklace): 22" L (55.9 cm); quality of silver: 97.5%; total weight: 6.5 grams.
Filigree and granulation are among the oldest metalsmithing techniques. The techniques involved include twisting precious metal wires and soldering incredibly tiny beads comprised of the same precious metal onto the surface of the piece of jewelry. This very complicated technique requires painstaking attention to detail that relatively few jewelers have ever mastered. Ancient civilizations such as the Mesopotamians, Greeks, and Etruscans developed the methodology; filigreed and granulated jewelry continued to be popular in the Roman empire, and was also sought after by the Slavs, Anglo-Saxons, and Vikings, remaining popular throughout the Middle Ages. Interestingly, modern jewelers still utilize these ancient techniques.
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private Kaliningrad (Koenigsberg) and then Latvia collection; found on the Baltic Sea coast prior to 1982
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#156467
Condition
Strung in modern times and wearable as shown. Pendant is ancient, and necklace cord is modern. Pendant has been professionally cleaned, with very slight bending to overall form of pendant, otherwise intact and excellent. Wonderful patina throughout.