Tweezers Birka, 8th-9th century, bronze

Product description

This replica of a Viking-era tweezer has been meticulously crafted based on an archaeological find from the Viking town of Birka in Sweden and dates back to the 8th or 9th century.

The Viking tweezer measures 9.2 x 1.5 cm, including the ring, and 7 cm without the ring.

During the Viking Age, tweezers, along with nail cleaners and ear spoons, were an essential part of the personal grooming tools carried by women. Various forms of these items have been discovered in Viking settlements across their territories.

Bronze tweezers have been used for personal care since the Bronze Age. In Egypt and the Roman Empire, they were even part of medical instruments. Among Germanic and Viking peoples, tweezers remained an indispensable tool for hygiene and beauty care, making them an important element of women's accessories.

Viking women often wore tweezers along with other grooming tools on a long chain or leather cord, attached to their turtle brooches. These accessories hung down to hip level, ensuring they were always within easy reach.

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