Tongue Brooch from Birka

Viking tongue brooch in Jelling Style from Birka

Here you can buy a replica of a Viking jelly brooch, which was made after a historical find from Birka, dating to the 9th century.

This Viking tongue brooch from Birka shows a typical representation in the Viking jelling style, with two vertically arranged, ribbon-like serpentine creatures separated in the middle by a stylized tree.

It can be assumed that this depiction is of the two serpents Góinn and Móinn of the Edda, gnawing at the roots of the Germanic world ash tree Yggdrasil.

The original is now in the Staatens Historiska Museet in Stockholm.
Link to the original brooch…

In contrast to the historical model with a length of 10 cm, this replica measures 6 x 3 cm.

On the back of the brooch is a sturdy bronze needle, which is also suitable for heavy fabrics. The eyelet at the end of the tongue brooch can be used to attach a beaded pendant, for example, or to hang a chain with a toiletry set.

You can buy the Viking tongue brooch in high-quality bronze or in genuine silver-plated.

In addition to the widespread hump-shaped bowl brooches, flat brooches were also worn in the Viking Age. These are reminiscent of strap ends and are therefore called tongue brooches, which were equally worn below the shoulders in a pair and held the wearer's skirt there.

The Viking tongue brooches are probably based on Frankish and Anglo-Saxon book fittings, which the Vikings originally stole from Christian monasteries during their raids and converted into jewellery for their women. Later, tongue-shaped brooches were also made in the Scandinavian style.