Northern Europe, Scandinavia, Viking or Norse culture, ca. 8th to 10th century CE. An amazing and wearable bracelet of a hefty form shaped from a dense slab of 93% silver. The penannular composition is quite attractive and features petite stamped triangles on the terminals with registers of incised striations just above, a trio of deep, W-shaped serpentine grooves on each arm, and a stippled ground in the middle. Atop the spotted central surface is a sinuous, snake-like creature known as Jormungandr, the World Serpent with a segmented body slithering around itself as it consumed the end of its own tail. The underside of the bracelet is slightly concave to enhance the comfortability of the wearer. Size (bracelet): 3.3" W x 3.125" H (8.4 cm x 7.9 cm); (band): 1.3" W (3.3 cm); (wrist opening): 1" W (2.5 cm); quality of silver: 93%; total weight: 172.2 grams
The serpent form may relate to the Norse myth of Jormungandr (Jormungand), the Midgard Serpent, a child of Loki and a giantess who according to legend grew so large that it was able to surround the earth and grasp its own tail, forming an ouroboros. According to legend, when Jormungandr releases its tail, the final battle of the gods that will result in Earth becoming completely covered in water - known as Ragnarok - will begin. One of the most popular motifs in Norse art concerns the story of Thor and Jormungandr. In classic Thor style, he sets off on a reckless fishing expedition, taking the head of an ox as his bait, and sails further out to sea than he should. With a large hook and the ox head, he catches Jormungandr, who surfaces with poison and blood dripping from his mouth. Thor's fishing companion, the giant Hymir, quickly cuts Thor's line before he can slay the serpent with his hammer and Jormungandr sinks beneath the waves, the threat at bay - for the moment. Multiple Viking picture stones have been found depicting this story, including one from as early as the late 8th century.
This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world’s largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.
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
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#164130
Condition
Wearable as shown. Bracelet is professionally cleaned on all surfaces with some abrasions visible. Two very small perforations along one band. Light encrustations within some recessed areas, with minor softening to finer details, and very slight bending to terminals. Wonderful patina throughout, and nice preservation to central serpentine decoration.