These tortoise brooches are based on a somewhat larger find from the 10th century on Öland. It’s a typical model for the whole of Scandinavia. The model is large but still relatively easy to wear because the bronze is thinly cast. They weigh 104 grams each.
Oval tortoise brooches are the most common type of tortoise brooches in Scandinavia, except on Gotland, which practically only used animal head brooches. The first oval tortoise brooches are from the 8th century. They were quite small in size and seem to have been unique commissioned works from manors. During the 8th and 9th centuries, they acquired a more standardized style. The spread of the tortoise brooches in southern Scandinavia from the 8th century indicates a northeastern distribution where the oval tortoise brooch is less common in Denmark than in the rest of the Nordic region. In southern Scandinavia, the tortoise brooches disappeared during the second half of the 9th century, but on Björkö/Birka and in the northern part of Scandinavia, it persisted until around the year 1000.
Note that the price is per pair.
Made of bronze.
