Viking Earrings with Griffin Motif in Borre Style

Early Medieval Viking Earrings with Griffin Motif in Borre Style

Historical Context and Origin of the Motif

This beautiful piece of jewellery is inspired by historical Norwegian brooches from the Viking Age. The artistic design falls into the famous Borre style, which dominated Scandinavian art from the 9th century to the mid-10th century. This style, named after the rich archaeological site near the Norwegian village of Borre by the Oslofjord, seamlessly followed the older Oseberg style. Its main identifying features are the so-called gripping beasts, knotwork, and ring chains that form symmetrical and very dense patterns. Although drop earrings with hooks were not a common part of Viking fashion at the time (women wore massive tortoise brooches and neck pendants instead), this product is a very successful and tasteful modern adaptation of an authentic historical ornament for today's history enthusiasts.

Technical Parameters

Due to the handmade nature of the product, the specifications above may vary slightly from piece to piece.

Usage and Safety Instructions

The earrings feature a classic hook finding that is simply threaded through the pierced earlobe. From a safety perspective, please remember that dangling jewellery is not suitable for full-contact historical fencing, martial arts, or buhurt. During intense physical activity, there is a high risk of them catching on chainmail, weapons, or an opponent's clothing, which could lead to a painful tearing of the ear. It is highly advised to leave them safely in your camp before entering the battlefield. If you have a severe metal allergy, please bear in mind that although the surface is silver-plated, the core is made of a brass alloy.

Care for Silver-Plated Jewellery

To keep your earrings shining with a brilliant silver lustre, proper care is essential. Silver-plated brass naturally reacts to sweat, moisture, and cosmetics by gradually oxidising (tarnishing). Therefore, you should remove the earrings before bathing, showering, and applying hairspray or perfume. Never use abrasive pastes or harsh chemicals for cleaning, as these could irreversibly strip away the thin layer of silver. A gentle polish with a dedicated silver polishing cloth is absolutely sufficient to maintain their beauty.

Recommended Accessories

For a perfect and historically accurate coordination of your 9th to 10th-century costume, we highly recommend combining these earrings with a linen underdress, a woollen apron dress fastened by a pair of massive tortoise brooches, and a leather belt adorned with authentic brass fittings in the matching animal art style.