Vendel bracteate amulet Tjurko, bronze

Product description

This Germanic bracteate originates from Blekinge, Sweden, and dates back to the 4th to 6th century AD. The gold 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: "wurterunoʀanwalhakurne ˈ heldaʀkunimudiu," which can be translated as: "It cast the runes on the Welsch grain (gold, bracteate) Heldaʀ the Kunimunduʀ." These bracteates were common among the Germanic tribes during the Migration Period and were often used as amulets. It is believed that this particular bracteate was an award for warriors serving under a jarl or king.

The Tjurkö bracteate, measuring 3 x 3.5 cm, is available in bronze. The name "bracteate" comes from the Latin "bractea," meaning a thin disc, and these pieces were inspired by Roman medallions but were only minted on one side. The bracteate was discovered in 1817, along with other bracteates and a gold coin from Emperor Theodosius II, dating to 443 AD. This find dates the bracteate to the Germanic Iron Age, between 400 and 650 AD.

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