Valkyrie the Shieldmaiden Pendant, Antlers Hand-carved artifact
Valkyrie the shieldmaiden pendant, traditional Norse carving, moose antlers.
Size: 6 cm / 2.36 inches
Inspiration: Unique Viking Age silver 3D Valkyrie found in Denmark, The artefact dated 800AD.
Material *: moose antlers. No animal has been injured, as moose drop their antlers from late March to mid-April. Due to their strength and durability since ancient times, the moose antlers were used in the manufacture of weapons and jewelry.
* Recommendations for wear and storage: Avoid protracted heat (saunas, baths, direct sunlight), as well as contact with water and household chemicals.
Valkyries are fascinating figures in Norse mythology who play a crucial role in determining the outcome of battles. Here are a few interesting facts about these mythical beings:
- The word "valkyrie" comes from the Old Norse words "valr" (meaning "slain warriors") and "kona" (meaning "woman"). Valkyries are often depicted as beautiful and powerful women who ride horses or swans over the battlefield to choose which warriors will die and be taken to Valhalla.
- In addition to selecting the slain, Valkyries also have the power to protect and heal warriors. They were believed to have the ability to restore wounded warriors to health and grant them strength and courage.
- Valkyries are not immortal, but they do have the ability to live for thousands of years. According to some Norse myths, Valkyries can also take on human form and interact with mortals.
- While Valkyries are often associated with warfare and battle, they also have connections to other aspects of Norse mythology. For example, some Valkyries are said to have been lovers of gods or heroes, and others are associated with fate and destiny.
- In modern culture, Valkyries have been depicted in a variety of ways, from fierce warriors to powerful sorceresses. They are often portrayed as symbols of strength, femininity, and independence.
Overall, Valkyries are fascinating figures in Norse mythology who embody a complex mix of traits and abilities.
Artwork tags: Very Special and unique gift for Viking Woman warriors - Shieldmaiden, Fine Scandinavian traditional gift for Viking ladies, woman, Mother, Mother day gift for Norse Woman, Viking Age 3D Valkyrie figurine pendant, Vikings Shieldmaiden gift, Historical Norse art present for Vikings Fans. Medieval Jewelry recreation project by Z-Rune Norse Pagan Arts Workshop
Unique Silver 3D Valkyrie found in Denmark by Metal detectorist
Morten Skovsby had found a few coins, tools and a cannon ball in his backyard with his new metal detector when he decided to go further afield. On December 28th, 2012, Skovsby, Michael Nielsen, Jan Hein and Jacob Sietam, all members of a local metal detector group, explored a field in Hårby, central Denmark. Morton got a strong signal so he loosened a clump of frozen soil only to find a little silver face looking back at him. He scooped up the whole clod of earth, brought it home and put it on the radiator to thaw. Once unfrozen and cleaned of soil, the face turned out to belong a small female figurine just 3.5 centimeters (1.38 inches) tall.
Morten emailed the curator at Odense City Museums, Mogens Bo Henriksen who replied that it was a very interesting discovery. Further investigation by museum experts confirmed that early assessment and then some. It’s a standing figure of a Viking shield maiden broken at the abdomen. She wears a long textured gown and her long hair is in a pony tail tied in a knot at the back of her head. An eyelet behind her neck indicates the figurine was worn on a cord, perhaps as a pendant. She carries a double-sided Viking sword in her right hand, arm bent at the elbow, and holds a round shield in front of her body on her left arm.
She is made of solid silver and weighs 9.2 grams (0.32 oz). The silver is gilded and the pattern details in the gown and shield are filled in with a black enamel-like material called niello. She dates to the Viking age, around 800 A.D., and the design details identify her as not just any shield maiden, but as a Valkyrie - the Shieldmaiden, emissaries of Odin who choose who dies in battle and escort their souls to Valhalla. Other Valkyrie figures from the early Viking era have been discovered in Denmark, but they are flat two-dimensional pieces (mostly brooches). The Hårby figurine is the first three-dimensional Valkyrie figurine ever discovered. The fact that her back and sides are carved reveal heretofore unknown details about Viking hairstyle and dress from the period.
Odense City Museums did a small follow-up excavation at the discovery site. They found evidence of multiple pit houses, huts used as workshops for various crafts. Layers of burnt debris and fragments of scrap metal testify to the pit houses’ use as silversmiths. Perhaps the Valkyrie lost her both legs in the process of being chopped up and melted, her silver to be reused in new jewelry, only somehow the process was interrupted and she wound up in the trash instead.
The figurine has been declared treasure trove and the finder received a reward, although Morten doesn’t care about that. He’s just excited to have found such a special historical artifact. As of March 1st, 2013 she is on display at the National Museum’s yearly exhibition on treasure finds. After that she will be included in the National Museum’s exhibition on the Vikings which later traveled to the British Museum in 2014.
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