Vendel Era Snake Brooch

Snake brooch from the Vendel period.

This openwork snake brooch was made after a brooch from the Vendel period, which dates to the beginning of the 7th century.

The oval-shaped snake brooch shows two intertwined snakes biting each other's bodies, which was a typical motif for jewellery of the Vendel period.

Brooches depicting snakes or ribbon-like animals are known from various sites from the Vendel period. The historical model for this snake brooch is now in the possession of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford / UK.
Link to the original snake brooch...

In contrast to the historical model, which measures approx. 4.5 x 2 cm, has this brooch the dimensions 3.8 x 2.8 cm

The snake brooch is equipped with a sturdy needle, which is also suitable for stronger fabrics.

The Vendel snake brooch is available in high-quality bronze or in genuine silver-plated.

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In the period from 540 to 800 AD, brooches in the shape of snakes were quite common in Scandinavia. Depending on the era, these brooches had different shapes. Early snake brooches, for example, were S-shaped and inspired by continental brooches from the Alemannic region.

These S-shaped snake brooches were replaced in the first third of the 7th century AD by another type of snake brooch, which had an oval shape and showed two snakes biting each other. This late Vendel brooch was produced until about 700 AD, with some stragglers still being made in the early 8th century.

Snake brooches were worn exclusively by women, usually in combination with a brooch of another type of the same size on either side of the chest, with the pins always pointing upwards. Alongside this, a third, somewhat larger brooch was frequently found, placed horizontally under the chin and holding a cloak.