Kievan Rus, early 11th century, neck ring of braided silver rods fastened in hammered, ornamented rods with hooks for closing, cf. Fekhner 1967, fig. 13 no. 6, approx. 160×168 mm, 149 g - rare in private ownership. Exceptionally well-preserved with a working closing mechanism, however, wear marks after use as well as contemporary repair with a rivet.

Large rings served both as elitist personal decoration and as a measure of value - also in fragmented form. Silver rings and other silver objects and / or fragments thereof and coins are often mixed in the treasure hoards of the time.

Given the Vikings' trade and travels on the Russian rivers, it is not surprising that skilled craftsmen in Kievan Rus produced neck rings inspired by the Scandinavian rings. The latter usually consists of the same rods all the way through with ends hammered into a flat rod with a hook. However, this ring still has many similarities with neck rings found in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, for example the Danish hoards from Vaalse, Sejerø and Rømersdal (cf. Skovmand 1942, pp. 95f., 103f. and 130f.).

Further information about Kievan Rus rings, see M.V. Fekhner, “Shejnye grivny.” Ocherki po istorii russkoj derevni X-XIII vv. Trudy Gosudarstvennogo istoricheskogo muzeja, 1967 (43), pp. 55–88.

Coin & medals, 2 November 2021

Coins, Medals & Banknotes ▸ Denmark ▸ Viking Age

25,000 DKK