Urnes Medallion

This large piece has been inspired by designs found on the Norwegian staff-church at Urnes built in the eleventh century. This wooden church has given name to the Urne-style, a period in late Viking art. Although a Christian church, the woodcarvings that cover almost the entire building are not depictions from the bible or of Christ but rather show scenes from Norse mythology and from the sagas of the great northern heroes of the past. The ornamentation is of highly stylized beasts, swaying and curling in and out among each other, in the tradition of the earlier Viking styles. This medallion is of such beasts, with a serpent gliding among them, perhaps the Midgard Serpent. This Sterling Silver pendant does not include a leather thong. It is only delivered with a Sterling Silver chain with a special mounting (not shown) to really make this great piece stand out.