Viking Era Silver Torque neck or arm ring with Spirals
16
days
09
hours
29
minutes
50
seconds
Current bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 1,400 - € 1,700
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Viking Era silver torque formed from a single twisted rod with two spirals, worn as a bracelet with an inside diameter of about 94.5 mm, in good condition and authentic original from the 10th–11th century, acquired in 2024 from the Netherlands.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Attention: Due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Viking Age, silver torque made from a single rod of silver which has been expertly twisted, and ending in two spirals.
-> The size indicates it was probably worn as bracelet on the wrist or arm. The spirals on this bracelet were a popular motif, symbolic of life cycles and rebirth.
Inside diameter: ± 94,5 mm (widest point)
Condition: good and solid condition, signs of wear consistent with age and use. See images.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
-> Worn proudly by legendary chieftains, torques of this type were highly valued personal ornaments in Viking society.
Crafted with meticulous artistry, they served both as adornment and as marks of allegiance and achievement. They symbolized leadership, divine connection, and the refined craftsmanship of the Norse metalworking tradition.
Usually made of bronze, silver, or occasionally gold, they could be plain or twisted in form, and were worn by both men and women. In the Viking Age, such jewellery was not only decorative, but could also reflect personal identity, regional style, and social standing.
-> Twisted torques are especially characteristic of early medieval metalwork, where the spiral form demonstrated both aesthetic taste and skilled craftsmanship. In some cases, precious-metal neck rings also functioned as portable wealth, linking jewellery with gift-giving, trade, and the display of prestige within Viking society.
-> The spiral is one of the oldest symbols of human spirituality. Spiral motifs appear in ancient carvings and painted rock art dating back thousands of years The infinite, twisting spiral was a favourite of the ancient Greeks and Celts and has continued to influence artists, thinkers and designers for millennia.
It is thought to represent growth, expansion, cosmic energy and a symbol of the sun, and it has been suggested to be linked to birth or rebirth. Spirals have been found in burial sites, in vases, in jewellery, clothing, weapons and buildings.
Throughout history, the spiral has been a highly valued design in Roman, Anglo-Saxon, and Viking art, and continues to be appreciated to this day.
Material:
This object has been carefully examined for its material and surface characteristics.
Laboratory analysis (e.g. XRF) is not routinely undertaken in private collecting, and destructive testing is avoided as it causes permanent damage to archaeological material.
Before modern hallmarking, gold and silver alloys varied depending on local resources, recycling practices and economic conditions.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Attention: Due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Viking Age, silver torque made from a single rod of silver which has been expertly twisted, and ending in two spirals.
-> The size indicates it was probably worn as bracelet on the wrist or arm. The spirals on this bracelet were a popular motif, symbolic of life cycles and rebirth.
Inside diameter: ± 94,5 mm (widest point)
Condition: good and solid condition, signs of wear consistent with age and use. See images.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
-> Worn proudly by legendary chieftains, torques of this type were highly valued personal ornaments in Viking society.
Crafted with meticulous artistry, they served both as adornment and as marks of allegiance and achievement. They symbolized leadership, divine connection, and the refined craftsmanship of the Norse metalworking tradition.
Usually made of bronze, silver, or occasionally gold, they could be plain or twisted in form, and were worn by both men and women. In the Viking Age, such jewellery was not only decorative, but could also reflect personal identity, regional style, and social standing.
-> Twisted torques are especially characteristic of early medieval metalwork, where the spiral form demonstrated both aesthetic taste and skilled craftsmanship. In some cases, precious-metal neck rings also functioned as portable wealth, linking jewellery with gift-giving, trade, and the display of prestige within Viking society.
-> The spiral is one of the oldest symbols of human spirituality. Spiral motifs appear in ancient carvings and painted rock art dating back thousands of years The infinite, twisting spiral was a favourite of the ancient Greeks and Celts and has continued to influence artists, thinkers and designers for millennia.
It is thought to represent growth, expansion, cosmic energy and a symbol of the sun, and it has been suggested to be linked to birth or rebirth. Spirals have been found in burial sites, in vases, in jewellery, clothing, weapons and buildings.
Throughout history, the spiral has been a highly valued design in Roman, Anglo-Saxon, and Viking art, and continues to be appreciated to this day.
Material:
This object has been carefully examined for its material and surface characteristics.
Laboratory analysis (e.g. XRF) is not routinely undertaken in private collecting, and destructive testing is avoided as it causes permanent damage to archaeological material.
Before modern hallmarking, gold and silver alloys varied depending on local resources, recycling practices and economic conditions.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Details
Culture
Viking Era
Century/timeframe
10th - 11th century AD
Name of object
Torque neck or arm ring with Spirals
Acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Year acquired
2024
Material
Silver
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Previous owner - year acquired
2024
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
