1048 - Gold-plated silver pendant in the shape of a Valkyrie holding a drinking horn, Viking, 10th century.

Gold-plated silver pendant in the shape of a Valkyrie holding a drinking horn, Viking, 10th century. A small pendant in the shape of a Valkyrie running to the left in an ankle-length robe, the hem of which is decorated with recessed triangular indentations featuring raised dots in the center. Within this design are overlapping, angular stripes divided by vertical incised lines with dots in between. In her bent left hand is an unfilled, downward-pointing drinking horn. The head features a pointed front serving as the nose, almond-shaped eyes marked by incised lines, and hair falling backward over the shoulders in thick, intertwined strands. On the smooth reverse side is an eyelet for attaching the pendant to a base. The Valkyries escorted chosen, brave warriors—as a sort of “angel of death”—to Valhalla and to Odin’s table, where the Valkyries provided them with potions after they had competed in single combat during the day. Height: 2.8 cm. CULTURAL HERITAGE! Provenance: Private collection in southern Germany, acquired in the late 1990s from the collector’s father’s collection. Condition: I -