Code: 10970
This is an ancient Scandinavian Viking silver finger ring, dating to the 9th - 10th century A.D. The ring is formed from rods of silver twisted together, the terminals hammered and welded (to enable the ring to be adjustable). This example is a good piece of Viking age jewelry, similar examples recorded SUSS-588B26, KENT-4D4DB5and SUR-C33FB2.
The form of the ring is a miniature version of Viking-period gold and silver neck- and arm-rings of around the 10th-11th centuries, like those from Skaill, Orkney, and Wipholm, Germany. This type of ring appears to have continued in use into the 12th century, or perhaps slightly later (F. Lindahl, 2003, Symboler i guld og sølv. Nationalmuseets fingerringe 1000-1700-årene, Copenhagen, nos. 8, 10, and 13; J. Graham-Campbell, 2011, The Cuerdale Hoard and related Viking-Age silver and gold from Britain and Ireland in the British Museum, London, British Museum Press, 107-108).
OBJECT: Finger Ring
CULTURE: Viking
DATE: c. 9th - 10th century A.D.
MATERIAL: Silver
RING SIZE: 9 1/2 (US) S 3/4 (UK)
SIZE: 27mm x 31mm x 6mm
WEIGHT: 9.48 grams
PROVENANCE: Ex. European Private Collection