Viking Art

Lindholm Høje, here was the little Urnes-broche found.

The art in the Viking period is a name for the artistic styles in the North and the areas of northern Europe where the vikings settled. The preserved works of art include both carved wooden figures, jewelry , carved stones and in rare cases tapestry; it also includes literary works i.e. poems. The animal motives and the stylized figures are a direct continuation of the styles from earlier periods. In the Viking art is also found Celtic and Romanesque influence.

There are six main styles: Oseberg, Borre, Jelling, Mammen, Ringerike and Urnes Style. The Jelling style is named after the Danish royal grave in Jelling, East Jutland, and features prominent animal designs. The Ringerike style is characterized by elaborate foliage ornament and interlacing and is named after the district in Norway where it is represented in local sandstone. Detailed designs in carved doors of Urnes stave church in the Sognefjord, Norway gave its name to the final style. Urnes style is developed from Ringerikestilen and was used from ab. 1050 til ab. 1140. Large slender animals weaved with snakes and threads are characteristic.

Urnes Style. The fibula was found in Roskilde, a characteristic example of the large animal interlaced with threads and snakes. It is a combination of a dress-buckle or a pendant from the 1100s. The original jewelry is bronze and is exhibited at the National Museum. The copy is Sterling silver (55 mm) and is availbable at i.e. Moesgård Museumsbutikken (on-line).


Urnes Style. The little broche from Lindholm Høje is from ab. year 1000, a fine example of the late Viking period's animal style, the large animal fighting the snake, a symbol of the fight between good and evil. The original jewelry is exhibited at Aalborg Historiske Museum


photo : grethe bachmann