700-900 AD, Viking Age. A heavy silver bracelet with areas of incised decoration in the form of bands of lozenges and dots, perhaps designed to imitate the scales of a serpent or dragon, and recurved coiled terminals. In Viking society bracelets were not just decorative, but also served to mark bonds of loyalty between a lord and his followers in a culture where honour was a matter of life and death. Such items were also given to young men to mark their coming of age and bracelets of precious metals were also used as currency in a time before the widespread availability of coinage. Superb condition, wearable.Size: L:64mm / W:71mm ; 54g; Provenance: Property of a North London professional; previously acquire on the UK/European art market before 2000.