VIKING KEY sterling silver pendant

HAND CARVED STERLING SILVER (OXIDIZED) VIKING KEY PENDANT

Remnants of locks and keys are found throughout the archaeological record of the Viking age, as well as during the Migration Period, and the Medieval Period throughout Europe.

- Material: sterling silver

- Finish: oxidized

- Hand carved

- Length: ca. 4,5 cm (1.77 in)

- WITH OR WITHOUT SILVER CHAIN! A 50 cm (19.7 in) ozidized silver chain can be choosen as option!

In Viking times, women were in charge of the home and the farm and therefore the guardian of the keys. Keys were a symbol of a woman's status in the home and in society. Women would run farms both in the presence of their husband or while he was away.

The role of a woman and the symbolism of keys is even accounted in the Poetic Edda, in the Lay of Thyrm (Þrymskviða) when Thor disguises himself as Freya and goes to wed Thrym so that he will return Mjolnir, which was stolen. Heimdall says, "Busk we Thór then in bridal linen, a buckle on him the Brísings' necklace. Let a housewife's door keys dangle about him. let woman's weeds be worn by him. Let him bear on his breast bridal jewels, a hood on his head, as behooves a bride." Then Thor answered, "A craven wretch may call me the gods if I busk me in bridal linen". Though Thor thinks the wearing of keys is beneath him, a woman would show her status by wearing her keys on her chains on the outside of her dress.

Darkwood Jewelry is inspired by magic, nature, the mysterious aspects of history, traditional handcrafts and the esoteric.

Every Darkwood item is carefully hand-crafted and therefore unique.

Please note that due to its handmade nature, your personal piece might slightly differ from the one showed on the product page. We hope that you enjoy these individualized differences in your piece, made with passion by human hands.

Please don't forget to remove your jewelries before swimming, chemicals or salty water will damage them. It is also advised to remove them before going to sleep to avoid bendings and breakings.

All the pieces are shipped from Warsaw, Poland. All packages are shipped with registered priority mail (a registered letter or a parcel), which includes tracking (some countries no longer offer tracking for registered mail).