Ca. 700-1100 AD. Viking Age. A collection of four cast Viking era 'Omega' penannular brooches, each with a circular hoop, rounded section, a broad, arrow-shaped pin and two projecting terminal plates bearing geometric decorative motifs. 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 these 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. Size: L:set of 4: 62mmmm / W:45mm ; 77.7g; Provenance: Important London collection of Ancient art; formed in 1970s then passed by descent.