Viking Brooches Facts: Who Wore Them, Were They Beautiful, And More!

Martha Martins
Oct 17, 2023 By Martha Martins
Originally Published on Dec 16, 2021
Viking brooches facts will help you know about the use of gold threads and wire braid.
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 6.7 Min

Jewelry has always been a symbol of great significance in the history of the world.

Jewelry has been used not only for ornamental purposes but also for many other symbolic purposes. Do you know about Viking jewelry?

If you want to know about the special features of Viking jewelry then read on for some facts about Viking jewelry.

Vikings were seafaring people. These people lived in a place called Scandinavia which in the present-day includes Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. The Vikings were kind of pirates who looted during the 8th to the 11th centuries. However, the Vikings are remembered for their wars as well as bravery.

Have you ever heard about the Vikings' jewelry? Both Viking men and women used to wear jewelry.

They used to wear pendants in their necklaces, and there are now known as Viking pendants. Do you know about the decorative items made by Vikings? Jewelry was used as a decorative item as well as a symbolic object and silver and gold were used as a means of payment as well.

Have you heard about the Viking pendants or do you want to find out who wore these jewels? Well, read on for answers to your questions about Viking brooches. Afterward, also check Viking jewelry facts and Viking helmet facts.

The Clothes And Jewelry Of The Vikings

Viking men and women used to wear clothes according to their gender. However, the clothes which were worn by the Viking men and women are rare to find nowadays. In this section, we will look more closely at Viking clothes and jewelry and find out about some significant features of Viking clothing.

Viking men wore trousers along with tunics under their main items of Viking clothing. Viking women, on the other hand, used to wear strap dresses along with undergarments.

Among the various kinds of Viking clothes, the Viking women used to wear cloaks over their shoulders as well. Vikings would use brooches to fasten clothes.

Viking men also wore caps. Some of the caps were pointed, however, others were rounded and crown-like.

The Viking community used to wear a number of types of jewelry. Some of these included different types of arms rings, finger rings, and necklaces as well as brooches. The Vikings did not wear earrings. The reason for this might simply be that they were not familiar with earrings.

The Viking people also used to wear necklaces which we now refer to as Viking necklaces. Viking men often wore a single brooch on their right shoulder.

The Silverdale Hoard is a collection of around 200 pieces of jewelry made from silver which were discovered in Lancashire, England, in 2011. It is one of the largest collections of Viking jewelry ever to be discovered in the United Kingdom.

Jewelry In The Viking Age

What kind of jewelry did a typical Viking woman wear? Did the Vikings wear an arm ring? Have you ever heard of a Viking brooch? Do you think that the Viking women wore jewelry to show their wealth and class? Well, if you want to know the answer to these questions, keep reading!

In the Viking Age, people used to wear jewelry which included arm rings and brooches as well. These neck rings and arm rings were made from silver.

The Viking Age is also significant as there were various kinds of Viking jewelry. As well as silver, the jewelry was made up of bronze and beads.

Archaeologists have found many arm rings, neck rings, and other pieces of ancient Viking jewelry which helps us to learn more about this group of people and this period in history.

During the Viking Age, pieces of jewelry were really simple but with time, jewelry became more intricate and beautiful.

In Norse mythology, Thor was the god of thunder and lightning. Viking warriors would wear pendants resembling Thor's hammer as a way to honor his power and strength.

In addition, Norse ornaments were used for the purpose of trade. Neck rings were worn by both genders but it is believed they may have been worn more by Viking women than Viking men.

Vikings wore jewelry made from precious metals. These precious metals included gold and silver as well as bronze. However, gold was rarely used.

In the 1980s, within the Blackwater River, a gold ring dated to Viking times was found by archaeologists.

Viking Necklaces And Necklines

What did Viking necklaces and neck rings look like and what kind of people wore necklaces? What were the special features of Viking neck wings? Well, let us tell you!

The Vikings used to wear neck rings as well as warrior arm rings. These jewelry pieces worn by the Vikings were used to add a symbolic value. The Vikings wore jewelry not just to look beautiful but also as a symbol of status in society as well as belief.

The Viking used to wear necklaces and those necklaces were made up of silver and bronze.

The neck rings that the Vikings wear are also known by the name of Torques. The Viking necklaces of the wealthy class were made up of beads that showed their class in society. Viking necklaces and neck rings were also representatives of their Viking culture.

It is thought that the Vikings got ideas for their jewelry from different cultures but that they used pieces of jewelry as a way of depicting Viking culture.

Some of the Viking’s jewelry was of very poor quality which meant it risked falling off the wearer. This may be why some archaeologists have found jewelry in the ground during excavations.

As already mentioned, Thor’s hammer was often worn as a talisman necklace. Thor's hammer pendant, which is also known as a Mjolnir, was basically worn as a religious ornament that was used to respect Thor and provide protection to the wearer.

Norse people made jewelry out of precious metals such as gold and silver as well as from animal bones.

Viking Arm Rings And Armbands

What do you know about Viking arm rings? Did the Vikings wear armbands? Well, Viking people used to wear Viking armbands which were also known by the name of bracelets. They also known as arm rings.

The Viking arm band is a form of a bracelet and this bracelet has a central square section that is made from a twisted silver bar.

A Viking arm ring is also known as an armlet or an armband. It was made from precious metal and was worn as jewelry or an ornament. The arm rings or neck rings were very beautiful and reflected the status of the people in society.

Viking arm rings are very well known and are in use even today. Right from the ancient Viking period to today's modern period, Viking jewelry has always held an important place in fashion and society.

Darren Webster, a keen metal detector user, found a sizeable Viking hoard on the Cumbria-Lancashire border in the UK. There were more than 200 items uncovered, including bracelets and coins. A Viking ring has also previously been found and it is believed that the ring fell from the hand of a warrior.

The Byzantine Court Fashion And The Upper Class

Do you know about the Byzantines and who they were? Well, the Byzantine Empire was a continuation of the Roman Empire and Viking warriors became bodyguards for the royalty of the empire.

The Byzantine culture was a mix-up of influences from the east and the west. The clothes were worn not only in Byzantine but also in other countries like Italy and Russia.

Byzantine clothing styles included a tunica which was a woolen or linen garment. The stola was a Byzantine-style garment made exclusively for women. The tablion was a rectangle piece of fabric that was worn on men's and women's cloaks.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Viking brooches facts then why not take a look at Viking arts and crafts facts, or Viking clothing facts?

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Written by Martha Martins

Bachelor of Arts specializing in Linguistics

Martha Martins picture

Martha MartinsBachelor of Arts specializing in Linguistics

Martha is a full-time creative writer, content strategist, and aspiring screenwriter who communicates complex thoughts and ideas effectively. She has completed her Bachelor's in Linguistics from Nasarawa State University. As an enthusiast of public relations and communication, Martha is well-prepared to substantially impact your organization as your next content writer and strategist. Her dedication to her craft and commitment to delivering high-quality work enables her to create compelling content that resonates with audiences.

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