Vendel Era Serpent Medallion

Serpent medallion after a motif from the Vendel period.

This openwork pendant in the shape of a medallion was modelled on a brooch from the Vendel period, which dates to the beginning of the 7th century.

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

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

In contrast to the historical model with approx. 4.5 x 2.8 cm, this replica is somewhat smaller.
Dimensions: 4.5 x 2.8 cm

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

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In the period from 540 to 800 AD, snake-shaped brooches were common in Scandinavia, appearing in different forms depending on the era. Early serpentine brooches corresponded to the S-shaped types in Central Europe and were inspired by continental brooches from the Alemannic region.

These S-shaped snake brooches were superseded in the first third of the 7th century by a brooch type in oval shape with two snakes biting each other, which remained in production until about 700 AD, with some stragglers still being produced in the early 8th century.

Snake brooches were worn exclusively by women and usually together with a brooch of a different type but of the same size on either side of the chest, with the pins pointing upwards. Next to it, a third, larger brooch was often found, worn horizontally under the chin and used to fasten a cloak.