Bracelets

Add to album

These silver bracelets were found at Skaill at Sandwick in Orkney. They are part of the largest Viking Age silver hoard found in Scotland, buried between 950 and 970.

The bracelet on the left was made from three tapered rods twisted together, ending in a plain ovoid terminal. It was probably refashioned at some point in its use. The bracelet on the right was made from a thin band, with stamped ornament.

The Skaill hoard is a huge collection of silver. It weighed over 8 kilograms, equivalent in size to the largest hoards found in Scandinavia. The silver was probably the accumulated wealth of a Norse leader in the Scandinavian colony of Orkney.

Record details

To search on related items, click any underlined text below.

• Online ID: 000-190-004-095-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IL 24
• Date: Deposited between 950 and 970
  
• Material: Metal, thin; flat; tapering to both ends, one terminating in a hook, the other imperfect
  Wire, twisted
  Armband
  Ring, arm
  
• Dimensions: 3.00" D
  
• What: Armband
  Ring, arm
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Sandwick, Skaill
  Scotland, Orkney, Sandwick, Skaill
  
• Event:
• Description: Arm ring of twisted wire from Skaill
  Flat armband of thin metal tapering to both ends, one terminating in a hook, from Skaill
  
• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James. The Viking-age gold and silver of Scotland (AD 850-1100), 1995, pp 114-5. 
• Translations:
• Related Records: