Name: Vendel horse brooch Birka, right, bronze
Brand: Celtic WebMerchant
SKU: 07_Br_Horse_-_R_bro
Price: 26.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

Vendel horse brooch Birka, right, bronze

Leather pouch, black
£ 7 Incl. VAT
Money purse, red
£ 9 Incl. VAT

Product description

The horse-shaped brooch was discovered alongside another mirrored brooch, forming a pair, in the Viking Age grave Bj 854, accompanied by other grave goods. This is an extraordinary find, as these brooches differ from the typical Viking oval brooches. Positioned below the shoulders — one on the left and one on the right — they clearly served the purpose of fastening the dress of the Viking woman buried there. The brooch features an eye inlaid with red glass enamel in place of the garnets found on the original piece. The replica is available in high-quality bronze. On the back is a sturdy pin, suitable for fastening even heavy woollen fabrics, and the dimensions are 5.4 x 3.2 cm.

The original brooches were uncovered in the 1870s by archaeologist Hjalmar Stolpe in the grave Bj 854 in Birka, on the island of Adelsö in Upland, Sweden. Crafted from partially gilded silver and adorned with garnet-inlaid eyes, they represent a remarkable example of Viking Age metalwork. These horse brooches are believed to have been produced in Scandinavia and were interred in a 10th-century Viking tomb. However, stylistic analysis suggests that the horses themselves likely date from the 6th or 7th century.

The design and craftsmanship indicate that the horses may originally have been created as decorative fittings. At a later stage, they were adapted with a pin mechanism to function as brooches. This adaptation hints at their long-standing significance — possibly as heirlooms passed down through generations within the family before being placed in the grave.

Product details

Product details:

Material: bronze

Dimensions: 5.4 x 3.2 cm

Left version also available, to create a pair

Based on a historic original

Shipment weight (grams): 100