This beautiful pendant is based on a find from Lilla Rone on Gotland. It is made of bronze with a mounted amethyst. The stone is approximately 13 mm in diameter.
The original is now housed at the Historical Museum in Stockholm and can be viewed here: Lilla Rone.
It was part of a magnificent set of jewelry adorned with various silver beads and silver-mounted rock crystals. The entire collection can be seen here: set of jewelry.
There are several finds of pendants from the Viking Age on Gotland that feature silver-mounted rock crystals. These pieces of jewelry seem to have been worn by women and have been found both as individual specimens and in larger quantities.
They can be divided into two main categories: the completely round ones and the more flattened ones. The round ones seem to date to the late Viking Age or early Middle Ages, while the flatter ones are from the earlier Viking Age. In addition to rock crystals, a few examples with silver-mounted amethysts have also been found on Gotland, but rock crystals are the most common stones. Similar gold-mounted pendants have also been found in Hedeby.
Some of the round crystals appear to have a shape that could be used as magnifying glasses, but this is uncertain, and most are mounted in a way that makes them more suitable as jewelry than as tools.
Spherical amethysts from the 6th century that are mounted in gold and silver are also found in other parts of Europe, such as in Merovingian and Mongolian cultures. Although the style may vary slightly, there is a possibility that there is a common tradition that has influenced these different cultures.
Here are other similar findings from Gotland:
From Öja: Öja
From Havdhem: Havdhem
From Grötlingbo: Grötlingbo
And one from Fardhem, with an mounted amethyst: Fardhem
A black cord with adjustable length is included with all pendants.
