Viking shield Vegvisir with rawhide

Product description

Built from approximately 13 mm thick plywood, this Viking shield stands out for its detailed craftsmanship. At the center sits a large steel boss, secured with four rivets. The umbo provides enough room even for robust Viking hands. Rawhide covers the edge of the shield, and three riveted wooden slats reinforce the back. The central slat doubles as a handle, wrapped in leather at the midpoint for a comfortable grip.

The central motif is the Vegvísir (also known as the 'wayfinder'), a magical symbol or sigil (galdrastafir) of Icelandic origin. Its first known representation appears in the Icelandic Huld Manuscript by Geir Vigfússon from 1860. It states: "If this symbol is carried, one will never lose their way in storms and bad weather, even when the way is not known." While there is no historical evidence that the Vegvísir was used by the Vikings during the Viking Age, it remains a meaningful symbol today. In Ásatrú, it represents the nine worlds of Norse mythology. In modern life, people wear it as a pendant or talisman symbolizing guidance — a reminder to weather the storms of life, even on unfamiliar paths.