Ca. 700- 1100 AD. Viking Era. A fine silver 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. For more general information on Viking Jewellery see Arbman, H. Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940. Good condition.Size: L:58mm / W:67mm ; 29.9g; Provenance: From an old British collection, acquired on the UK art market in the 1990s.