Vendel bracteate amulet Tjurko, bronze

Product description

This Germanic bracteate originates from Blekinge, Sweden, and dates back to the 4th to 6th century AD. Made from gold, the bracteate features an image of a head surrounded by an inscription in the older Futhark runic alphabet. The original bracteate was discovered on the island of Tjurkö near Karlskrona in southern Sweden and is now part of the collection at the Swedish National Museum in Stockholm.

The inscription on the Tjurkö bracteate reads: "wurteruno?anwalhakurne ? helda?kunimudiu," which translates as: "It cast the runes on the Welsch grain (gold, bracteate) Helda? the Kunimundu?." These bracteates were common among the Germanic tribes during the Migration Period, and warriors often wore them as amulets. Historians believe this particular bracteate was an award for warriors serving under a jarl or king.

The Tjurkö bracteate measures 3 x 3.5 cm and is available in bronze. The name "bracteate" comes from the Latin "bractea," meaning a thin disc. These pieces drew inspiration from Roman medallions but were minted on one side only. Discovered in 1817 along with other bracteates and a gold coin from Emperor Theodosius II dating to 443 AD, this find places the bracteate in the Germanic Iron Age, between 400 and 650 AD.