Isabella Flores
Viking art is usually divided into a sequence of roughly chronological styles, although local influences outside Scandinavia can make the development of these styles less clear. The artistic record that has survived to the present day is incomplete, but ongoing archaeological excavations may improve this situation. The Vikings originated in Scandinavia and attacked wealthy targets on the coasts of Europe from the late 8th to the mid-11th century CE. They were skilled craftspeople who used wood, metal, stone, textiles, and other materials to create art. Woodworking was an essential skill, and detailed wood carvings have been uncovered and restored, but wood is susceptible to rot and fire, so only a small fraction of Viking woodwork has survived. Most of the surviving art has been made from more durable materials like metal and stone. This includes jewellery, weapons, storage vessels, and other utilitarian objects, as well as ivory and bone carvings, precious textiles, and stone carvings. The Oseberg ship burial from the early 9th century CE is a particularly notable example of Viking art, featuring spectacular wood carvings, such as a beautifully carved wooden cart and three sleighs, as well as five 3D carved animal-head posts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Period | c. 790-1100 CE |
| Region | Scandinavia, the northernmost peninsula of continental Europe |
| Art forms | Relief carvings, engravings, 3D art, paintings |
| Materials used | Wood, metal, stone, glass, amber, carnelian, rock crystal, ivory, bone, textiles |
| Objects decorated | Jewellery, weapons, carts, memorial stones, horse equipment, utility goods, textiles, ships |
| Motifs | Animals, abstract patterns, humans, plants |
| Notable examples | Oseberg ship burial, Broa graves, Borre style, Jelling Stones |
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What You'll Learn
The Oseberg ship burial
The Oseberg ship was richly decorated and equipped with lavish burial gifts for the two women aboard. The ship and the grave goods are unusually well preserved because of the blue clay in which it was buried. The clay, in combination with the compact turf mound, created exceptionally good conservation conditions, rarely encountered in Norwegian burial mounds. The ship floated very well and, in March 2014, it was sailed on the open seas with Færder as its destination, achieving a speed of 10 knots under full sail.
The Oseberg burial is a significant source of information about Viking Age textiles, and the wooden cart discovered with the ship is the only complete Viking Age cart found so far. The grave goods included agricultural and household tools, personal items such as clothes, shoes, combs, and exotic vessels from Ireland or England, ship's equipment, kitchen equipment, farm equipment, three ornate sledges, a work sledge, a wagon, five carved animal heads, extra beds, and tents. The bow and stern of the ship are elaborately decorated with complex wood carvings in the characteristic "gripping beast" style, also known as the Oseberg style.
The Oseberg ship and some of its contents are displayed at the Viking Ship Museum at Bygdøy on the western side of Oslo, Norway. The excavation of the ship and its subsequent display have provided valuable insights into Viking Age art, burial practices, and sailing capabilities of early Nordic ships.
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Jewellery and metal utility goods
Viking art mostly consisted of decorations on functional objects made of wood, metal, stone, textiles, and other materials. Jewellery and metal utility goods formed a significant part of the surviving artefacts from the Viking era. These include the following:
Jewellery
Both men and women in the Viking community wore a wide variety of jewellery. Viking jewellery was typically made from precious metals and stones, and it served a dual purpose: for aesthetic appeal and as a form of currency in trade. Neck rings were typically worn by men and were made by twisting metal rods together, sometimes supporting a gem, amulet, or pendant. Women, on the other hand, wore more elaborate necklaces. Finger rings were worn by both sexes, differing only in size. Armrings and armbands were also popular and served as a display of wealth and social standing. They were often crafted from precious metals and could be bent and broken into pieces to be used in trade.
Earrings were the least common form of Viking jewellery, and historians believe they were of Slavic origin. They were quite intricate and were worn over the entire ear rather than hanging from the earlobe. Brooches were also common, with men using penannular brooches to hold their cloaks closed, and women using matching pairs of large "tortoise brooches" to fasten their overdresses near the shoulder. Women often strung metal chains or strings of beads between their brooches or suspended ornaments from the bottom of the brooches.
Metal Utility Goods
The Vikings also crafted metal utility goods, such as horse equipment, and weapons. Sword hilts, for example, were often richly decorated. A small number of large and lavish pieces or sets in solid gold have been discovered, likely belonging to royalty or major figures.
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Wood carvings
Viking art, including wood carvings, was influenced by the availability of materials. Wood was readily available, while other materials like paper and stone were not. Wood carving was also an important part of Viking society, with household wooden artefacts like spoons, chests, and chairs being adorned with carvings.
Wood carving was an integral part of Viking culture, playing a central role in their material culture and daily lives. It served both practical and decorative purposes, with the former including the production of tools and household objects. Over time, wood carving became increasingly ornate and symbolic, influenced by Norwegian mythology and Viking social structures. The carvings often featured intricate patterns and motifs rooted in Norse mythology, with animals being a popular subject.
The Oseberg ship burial, dated to around 834 CE, is a notable example of Viking wood carving. The burial included a beautifully carved wooden cart and three sleighs, as well as five 3D carved animal-head posts. These artefacts showcase the intricate and detailed work of Viking wood carvers, with some pieces even decorated with small silver nails. The use of maple wood for the animal heads is particularly interesting, as it is a hard and dense wood that may have been chosen for its lightness or ability to hold fine details.
While wood carvings existed during the Viking Age, they have not survived well over time. Wood is a fragile material that often does not withstand the test of time, and fragments of wooden carvings from this period are rare. However, the few surviving examples, like those from the Oseberg find, provide valuable insights into the artistic skills and cultural expressions of the Vikings.
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Stone carvings
Viking art mostly encompassed the decoration of functional objects made of wood, metal, stone, textile, and other materials with relief carvings, engravings of animal shapes, and abstract patterns. The zoomorphic art, or stylised animal motif, was the most popular form of Viking art.
Viking art can be divided into a sequence of roughly chronological styles, though outside Scandinavia itself, local influences are often strong, and the development of styles can be less clear. One of the most famous examples of Viking art is the Oseberg ship burial, discovered in 1904 by Norwegian archaeologist Haakon Shetelig. The ship burial was richly furnished and included a beautifully carved wooden cart, three sleighs, and five 3D carved animal-head posts.
Another example of Viking art is the group of runestones in eastern Sweden called the Sigurd Stones, which depict the Germanic heroic legend of Sigurd the dragon slayer. One of these, the Ramsund Carving, is unique as it is the only runic carving in the area etched into a rocky outcrop rather than a standing stone. The stone was carved by an aristocratic Viking family in memory of a departed family member. The figure of Sigurd also appears on several carved stones in parts of Great Britain with strong Scandinavian cultural influence, such as at Ripon and Kirby Hill in North Yorkshire.
The Bro Runestone, the Kjula Runestone, and the Ramsund carving were all raised by the same aristocratic family, allowing scholars to study the family of Hakon Jarl mentioned on the runestones. The Gök stone, which illustrates the Christianization of Scandinavia, is another example of a Sigurd stone. It depicts the same imagery as the Ramsund carving but adds a Christian cross and combines the images in a way that distorts the narrative logic.
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Textiles
Viking clothing was made from a variety of materials, including wool, flax, linen, and silk. Flax was the most common material, found in around 40% of Viking Age fabric discoveries. Linen, made from flax or hemp fibres, was used for undercothes, bedding, or as lining for more ornate garments. It was typically left undyed, although it could be bleached using wood ash and boiling water. Silk, an expensive import from the Byzantine Empire, was also discovered in the form of head coverings and fragments of coats, often featuring intricate patterns and brocade textures.
The Vikings were skilled at dyeing their textiles using natural elements, resulting in vibrant colours. Colours known to be used include yellow, red, purple, and blue. Blue was particularly precious, sourced from local plants or imported indigo, and was only found in the burials of the wealthy. Patterns and symbols were also woven into the fabric, with tunics featuring significant motifs to denote status.
Fragments of embroidered textiles and tapestries from the Viking Age have been discovered at archaeological sites in Norway and Sweden. These pieces often depicted human and animal figures embroidered with colourful wool threads on linen or wool backgrounds. They were likely used as wall hangings, ceremonial cloths, or garment embellishments, showcasing the Vikings' creativity and skill in needlework.
In addition to clothing and household textiles, the Vikings also produced domestic items such as sacking for grain and sails for ships. They used linen bags to transport food, herbs, and spices. They even utilised worn-out clothing for various purposes, such as coating them with pitch to seal cracks in ships or as torches.
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Frequently asked questions
Vikings used materials like wood, metal, stone, glass, textiles, and natural materials such as amber, carnelian, and rock crystal.
Objects that have survived include jewellery, weapons, utility goods, storage vessels, and memorial stones.
The stylised animal ('zoomorphic' art) was the most popular motif in Viking art, with animals twisting and churning across surfaces, often interwoven with plant ornamentation.
Notable examples include the Oseberg ship burial, the Broa graves on Gotland, and the Jelling Stones.
The artistic record of Viking art is incomplete, and many wooden artefacts have rotted or been lost to fire. Ongoing archaeological excavations may uncover more artefacts and improve our understanding.
