In the Viking culture, brooches were commonly used to fasten clothes or cloaks. The brooches were worn not only for practical purposes but also as an indication of wealth, fashioned from simple bone pins, to more elaborate gold brooches. Animals and mythical beast motifs frequently feature on Viking jewellery and ornaments accompanied by geometric interlace of knots and patterns. Brooches were worn by both genders, men commonly wore one on their right shoulder while women wore two brooches to fasten their shawls, one on each shoulder.
To find out more about different metal decorative techniques please see our relevant blog post: Decorative Metalwork Techniques
