Brooch (detail)

This large silver brooch was found at Skaill at Sandwick in Orkney, and is part of the largest Viking Age silver hoard found in Scotland. It was clearly meant for ostentatious display of wealth and status. This picture shows a detail of the hoop.

The ball-shaped pinhead and hoop terminals are engraved on this side with interlaced animal patterns - a bird on the pinhead and S-shaped ribbon animals on the terminals. They are in decorated in a Scandinavian art style called Mammen style.

Ball-type penannular brooches developed in Ireland, but were adopted by Viking settlers. Decoration, as on this example, reflected Scandinavian taste. They were probably made in a workshop situated around the Irish Sea, perhaps on the Isle of Man.

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