Scandinavian Viking silver finger ring

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 10^th-11^th centuries, like those from Skaill, Orkney, and Wipholm, Germany.  This type of ring appears to have continued in use into the 12^th 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.