Viking Treasure Necklace

A treasure necklace based on the necklace found in the Hoen Horde in Buskerud, Norway in 1834.

Introduction

This necklace is my interpretation of the necklace found in Hoen Horde. That particular piece is the “gold standard” of modern Viking treasure necklace construction. Few extant pieces are found intact, so this one is unique and provides a road map for those who wish to recreate these types of pieces.

In period necklaces were usually constructed on a form of waxed thread or wire from beads and other pieces collected during trading or raiding. The necklaces were designed by size, shape, and color of beads grouped together with other ornaments placed at various intervals. The Hoen Horde necklace was constructed of 32 glass beads, semi-precious stones, pendants made of wire/metal and beads, and gold bookplates.

Process

Style: Circa 850-875 CE

Construction: The necklace is constructed on tiger-tail bead wire with a variety of glass beads, hand-made pendants and brass spirals, small brass rectangular pendants to mimic bookplates, and small round pewter pendants to mimic coins.

First I crafted the pendants from 20 gauge brass wire adding glass, metal, and ceramic beads. Then I crafted the spirals from 14 gauge half-round brass wire. Once those pieces were completed I began constructing the necklace using tiger-tail bead wire chosen for its strength and ease of use, a variety of glass beads grouped by color and size, four rectangular brass pendants to resemble gold bookplates, three round pewter pendants to resemble coins, and the pendants and brass spirals I hand-crafted. The completed piece is 42 beads and 12 ornamental pieces, closed by a crimp bead. Total length once closed 22 inches.

Sources

Dubin, Lois Sherr, and Robert K. Liu. The History of Beads: From 30,000 B.C. to the Present (New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1987). Beautiful plates, includes a picture of several pendant necklaces.

Wilson, David M. The Vikings and Their Origins (Great Britain: Thames and Hudson London 1970 new edition 1980). Description and picture of the Hoen Horde, information on various other horde finds.

Meaney, Audrey L. Anglo-Saxon Amulets and Curing Stones. British Archaeological Reports Series 96. Oxford: 1981 Currently out of print, however I was able to find a PDF version online. This work is a wealth of information including pendants and other ornaments used for treasure necklaces.

http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/vikbeads Information on glass beads, flamework, and treasure necklaces.

http://www.medievalist.net – Viking Bling: Five Fabulous Hordes Review of horde finds.