Ca. 700- 1100 AD. Viking Era. A fine bronze Viking era 'Omega' penannular brooch with hemi-spherical blue gems set into the terminals, a circular section, and a fine pin. Pin is intact. Brooches were an important part of Viking culture and were worn by both men and women. These items were multifunction with their most basic purpose being clothing fasteners while their more ostentatious role was to serve as a display of wealth. Brooches such as this one were status symbols, tradable goods in lieu of currency, and are often found as grave goods to provision the dead for the afterlife. For more general information on Viking Jewellery see Arbman, H. Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940. Good condition; beautiful patina.Size: L:61mm / W:82mm ; 23.52g; Provenance: Obtained from B.G. ; previously in a collection formed in the 1990s on the UK and European art market.