Northern Europe, Viking or Nordic culture, ca. 8th to 10th century CE. A charming 98.4% silver bracteate pendant featuring a beautiful garnet cabochon of wine red hues at the center, set in a raised bezel surrounded by a curvilinear band that conjures waves or flower petals. The surface of both the circular face and the loop above is decorated with mesmerizing granulated and filigreed motifs. A band of repeating filigreed motifs that are curled at each end and highlighted with granules adorning each terminal as well as the interstices between is followed by surrounding borders of rope-patterned filigree which continue around the suspension loop. Even more granules and filigree decorate the loop as well. Pendants like this example were worn around the neck or sewn onto clothing as a type of amulet for protection or good fortune. Silver quality: 98.4% Size: 1.125" W x 1.375" H (2.9 cm x 3.5 cm)
Filigree and granulation are among the oldest metalsmithing techniques. The techniques involved include twisting silver or gold 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. In fact, modern jewelers still utilize these ancient techniques.
Many Vikings did not have a standard minted currency available to them; instead they kept their wealth in the form of jewelry made from precious metals like this example. Scholars believe that a common practice was to amass a hoard of these objects and then deposit them, often in water sources like rivers.
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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#160714
Condition
Silver slightly granulated else excellent and sturdy enough to wear.