Anglo-Saxon fibula Oxford, bronze

Product description

The oval-shaped snake brooch displays two intertwined serpents biting each other's bodies, a motif frequently found in jewellery from the Vendel Period. The design is based on a historical piece currently housed in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, UK. While the original specimen measures approximately 4.5 x 2 cm, this reproduction has dimensions of 3.8 x 2.8 cm and is equipped with a sturdy pin suitable for thicker fabrics. The brooch is available in high-quality bronze.

Between 540 and 800 AD, snake brooches were popular in Scandinavia, with designs evolving over time. Early examples featured an S shape and were inspired by brooches from the Alemannic region. By the beginning of the 7th century, these were replaced by oval designs with two serpents biting each other's tails. This type of brooch remained in use until approximately 700 AD, with some examples still being made in the early 8th century.

Snake brooches were worn exclusively by women, typically as part of a set. Two matching brooches were worn on either side of the chest, with pins facing upward. A third, slightly larger brooch was often placed under the chin to secure a cloak and complete the ensemble.

Dragons were the mythical variant of the serpent and were incorporated into the earliest myths of modern humans. As humans spread, dragon mythology also migrated across the world. In many Indo-European peoples, dragons play a prominent role in their mythologies. In Germanic and later Viking mythology, dragons are seen as all-destroying monsters. At the same time, they symbolize the malevolent beast that must be defeated by a hero. These two archetypes – the destroyer and the hero's antagonist – reinforce each other.