When you think of the Vikings, you might not immediately think of jewellery. You are more likely to think about warriors, longships and famous battles, like the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. But behind the fearsome reputation lies a deeply complex and sophisticated culture and society. The Viking jewellery East Sussex customers love is part of this exciting and fascinating culture.
The name Viking, strictly speaking, was a description rather than a title. It described the action of ‘Viking’, or raiding, a coastline. Therefore, there was no such thing as a Viking in terms of a nationality or a specific geographical community. The Vikings were individuals and warbands who travelled from Scandinavia to places like Northern Europe, Scotland, England and Ireland to raid, pillage and burn. They came from countries like Norway, Sweden and Denmark. When they were raiding, they were Viking warriors, but when they were settled in the new countries or back on their land in Scandinavia, they were farmers, community leaders and craftsmen. A Scandinavian warrior in the so-called Dark Ages could go from being a craftsman, to a Viking warrior, to a settler and farmer in a new country and then back to a Viking warrior, if circumstances dictated it.
The jewellery comes from this complex and sophisticated mixture of Scandinavian cultures. Viking jewellery was worn by virtually everyone in the community, with the exception of slaves. It was worn equally by men and women. The main difference was in the materials that the Viking jewellery was made from. For those who were less well off in the community, it was likely that the jewellery would be made from bone, iron or bronze. Gold and silver were more common amongst the wealthier members of the community, as a demonstration of wealth and power. In modern times, East Sussex customers are not likely to buy jewellery made from bone, iron or bronze, but Viking jewellery from gold and silver remains a popular choice.
You can identify Viking jewellery by two key characteristics. The first is the twisted and spiralling designs, which are similar to those found in Celtic jewellery. In fact, there are a lot of commonalities between traditional Celtic and Viking jewellery. East Sussex customers enjoy buying both, and the divide between the two styles is not clear cut. Viking designs range from the simplest of twists to more complex interwoven designs. The second characteristic of the Viking jewellery East Sussex customers love is the use of animals, especially mythological animals.
If you are looking for the best choice of Viking jewellery East Sussex has to offer, look no further than Mike Shorer. He has extensive experience in crafting all types of jewellery in a variety of materials. To get exactly what you want, in a high quality design made with expert trade skills, contact Mike. You can find the details on the website. You can be confident that when it comes to Viking jewellery, East Sussex has no better choice than Mike Shorer.
