VIKING ARTIFACTS
Shown here are four nice examples of the Urnes style of Norse decoration, which was the last major type to emerge in the Viking Period. I’d suggest that the earliest artifacts which can fairly be described as Urnes were made during the early 11th century, and the latest perhaps in the middle of the 12th century.
It was characterized by fine and sometimes delicate tendrils in an interlaced form. Generally, the design was created in an asymmetrical shape, and often suggested a beast entwined or trapped in tentacle-like bonds.
The largest item is an openwork stirrup mount, which was used to fasten the stirrup to the leather strap leading to the saddle of a mounted rider. It still retains traces of a silver overlay which highlighted the G-clef shaped beast in the middle of the design.
The artifact at the top left was likely a belt buckle using a separate latch, featuring two beasts intertwined, which could have been loosened or tightened slightly for the comfort of the wearer.
The middle item was a brooch—with remains of a pin element and catchplate on the back, showing a fairly abstract beast head at the top right of the piece, and an entwined body.
The final artifact is a sturdy-looking mount which probably was fastened to a belt or strap, and might have been used to suspend another item from it.
All of these artifacts were cast in bronze, which would have required some really sophisticated metal-working skill, and all of them were found in England.
CLAN CARRUTHERS SINCE 1983
Preserving the Past, Recording the Present, Informing the Future
Ancient and Honorable Carruthers Clan Int Society
carruthersclan1@gmail.com carrothersclan@gmail.com
Reviewed by Tammy Wise CHS- CHAIRMAN – Indiana USA
CLAN SEANACHAIDHI
CLAN CARRUTHERS INT SOCIETY CCIS HISTORIAN AND GENEALOGIST
You can find us on facebook at :
https://www.facebook.com/carrutherscarrothers.pat.9
https://www.facebook.com/CarruthersClan/
https://www.facebook.com/CarruthersClanLLC
Disclaimer Ancient and Honorable Carruthers Clan International Society
I
CLAN CARRUTHERS - OUR NORSE ANCESTORS 