Norse Art - Brooches and Other Objects

Brooches and Other Objects

In the fall of 1915, on the shore of Lewis, a group of ornaments buried during the Viking period were found. Some of these ornaments were bronze brooches, ornaments that had detailed interlaced patterns, buckles and an iron knife. Looking at the size of the burial, a Scandinavian woman probably wore some of these ornaments since it is typical of this time period. These ornaments are also influenced by Celtic art. This is evident in the large oval shape of the brooches. The brooches have reappeared. Seven of the brooches were connected together by bands of metal sand the spaces between them formed sunk panels that were decorated with animal ornament. This decoration can be attributed to earlier representation of lions or other creatures from Roman art that gradually lost their identity when northern artists copied them and became to have strange shapes. At Pierowall in Orkney a Viking cemetery was dug up and found was a Celtic penannular brooch. It has very interesting design since it combines the association of Celtic and Scandinavian art. It is very unique of the Viking period, it has a diameter of 2 inches and left traces of gilding. The center of the ornament is now empty and might have been filled with a piece of amber. Surrounding the empty space is a band of chevron and wider band of interlaced work formed of three cords making alternately a closed and an open loop.