In very early Nordic history gold was used often. By Viking times it had
been replaced by silver as a medium of exchange, but was still worn
occasionally. At least one saga mentions a prominent Viking wearing gold
"at the neck and wrist".
Laby Hammer
#5215; This stout Hammer is also a copy of a specific historical example.
This time, one found at Laby, in the Uppland province of Sweden. The original
of this hammer is in the Statens Historiska Museum, Stockholm. It's quite large and heavy, and is about 2 1/4" tall including the ring, and weighs about an
ounce on my postal scale. $55 in silver, $20 (Out of Stock) in bronze.
Small Laby Hammer
#N36; This a very small version of the Laby Hammer (.73"H by .58"W) without
the ring. It's cast in bronze, for $10. I have only one of these, so please order on-line or email first.
Birka Hammer
This is really tiny Hammer. The original was found in a grave at Birka dating
from about 800 A.D. It was a plain ring with two Hammers. The maker obtained the loan
of the original in order to make an exact copy. Each Hammer is about 11/16” (.068”) tall,
and 7/16” (.043”) wide. The Hammer on a ring is about 1 1/16" tall including the ring. Imported from Sweden.
Birka Hammer without the ring, $14
One Birka Hammer on a silver ring, $17
Two Birka Hammers on a ring, all in silver, $29
A pair of Birka Hammers mounted as earrings, $30
Dragon Hammer
#5109; This is modeled on the
the famous hammer from Fosse, Iceland. It's very cleanly cast, and a bit over
1 1/2" tall in the large size, and 1 1/8" tall in the small size.
#5109; Large, $40 in silver, $20 in bronze,
#5102; Small, $25 in silver, $12 in bronze.
Icelandic Hammer
#ODN-103; Once more, this time in pewter.
This one is still
more open and ligher in weight.
In fact, it is a bit flimsy and easy to
bend. About 1 5/8" tall, the price is $6.
Stenby Hammer, stamped
The original was part of a hoard found in 1893 while building a house in
Stenby, county of Motala, Sweden. The hord is thought to date from about the year 1000.
These Hammers were made in close cooperation with with Östergötland Läns Museum.
The maker was able to arrange the loan of the original in order to make an exact copy.
The original was found on a plain loop. Without the loop it’s about 1 5/16” (1.32”) tall and 7/8”
(.85”) wide. It has a simple pattern of punched decoration. Imported from Sweden.
In silver, the price with the loop is $36, without the loop $27.
Stenby Hammer, plain
The original of this Hammer was part of the same hoard. It’s thicker
and heavier,
and has a more defined shape. The surface lacks the punched decoration, but has a subtle
hammered finish. It’s just over tall with the loop. Without the loop it's about 1 3/8" tall, and 1 1/16 (1.08”) wide.
Crafted in silver and imported from Sweden, the price with a ring is $45, without $35. (This
one is quite a bit heavier than the stamped Stenby.)
Halmstad Hammer
The original Hammer was found in
Halmstad, Sweden. The loop is about 1 1/8" in diameter and the heigth of of the Hammer and
loop is a bit over 2". Crafted in silver and imported from Sweden, the price is $38.
It's also available without the loop for $28. The hole is quite small and you will need a fine
chain.
Grete Hammer
The original Grete Hammer is rather crudely forged, and may have been made by the
wearer rather than a professional jeweler. It's about 1 1/2" high with the ring. Imported from
Sweden, the price is $39.
Without the ring it's $33.
Mickels Hammer
The original Mickels Hammer was found in Gotland, Sweden. The loop is about 1 1/8"
in diameter and the heigth of of the Hammer and
loop is about 2 1/4". It's done in the round, and there is a different pattern on each side. It weighs about a half an ounce. Crafted in silver and imported from Sweden, the price is $60.
Without the ring it's $45.
Lugnås Hammer
Lugnås is in Västergötland , Sweden. The loop is about 1" in
diameter and the height of the Hammer with the loop is about 2 1/8".
It's a classic Hammer shape decorated with a punched pattern. The original Hammer is in the Västergötlands museum. Crafted in
silver and imported from Sweden, the price is $40.
It's also available without the loop for $32.
Horda Hammer
The original of this Hammer came from a hoard dated to about 900 A.D.,
and is kept in the County Museum of Småland, Sweden. The maker was able to obtain
the loan of the original to make an exact copy. It’s about 1 ¼” tall (1 1/8" with the ring),
and 1” wide. The price in silver, with a ring is $39, and without a ring it is $34. Imported from Sweden.
Herrestad Hammer
The original of this Hammer was found in 1729, and is dated to about 1000 A.D.
It was found while plowing in Herrestad, County of Skåne, Sweden. It's about 1 5/8" (1.3")
tall without the loop, and 1" wide. With the loop it's about 2 1/8" tall. The price in silver with a
loop is $35, without $27. The hole in this Hammer is quite
small, and you will need a very fine chain to wear it without a loop. Imported from Sweden.
Vatnsdalur Hammer
The original of this Hammer was found in Vatnsdalur, Iceland. It's one of the few Hammers
from Iceland. The construction is very similar to the Hesselbjerg Hammer below. It's made of quite thin sheet
silver, and is about 1 3/4" tall with the ring. Imported from Sweden, the price is $21.
Hesselbjerg Amulet
The Hesselbjerg Hammer was found as part of an amulet found in Hesselbjerg,
Denmark. The original was in iron and combines a sickle for good harvest, a Thor's
Hammer for protection, and a fire steel for warmth of home and hearth. The ring is about 7/8" in outside diameter, and the amulet
is about 2" tall with the ring. In silver and imported from Sweden, $ (Out of Stock) .
One of my customers did some research on this piece and came up with the following information,
supplied by Jens Jeppesen, the head archaeologist at Hesselbjerg.
1.) The "Hesselbjerg amulet" is currently in the collection of the Moesgaard
Museum, in Denmark.
2.) It was found during the 1970 season's excavation's in the Viking cemetery at Hesselbjerg in
East Jutland where at that time 48 graves had been located (current count are 104 graves, and
the excavations at the cemetery are done).
3.) The amulet is considered a "triple Thor's" amulet, in that all three symbols can be interpreted
as emblems of the god Thor. Besides the hammer which as you know made thunder, the sickle
represents his function as the patron god of farmers, and the firestriker represents him as the
maker of lightening.
4.) The amulet was found as part of a grave cache and dates to circa 900 AD.
5.) The settlement associated with the cemetery was recently found nearby, and at this point
excavations have revealed 12 houses, two wells, and a very nice selection of silver
jewelery and Arabic coins.
Thanks Cliff!
Small Hesselbjerg Hammer
Hammers of this general type were distributed widely. They were cut from
a single sheet, and the top was bent over to form the loop. This particular example is closely
modeled after the one found in Hesselbjerg, Denmark shown above. It's about 1 1/8" (30 mm) tall and 5/8" wide.
The original was about this size. Crafted in silver, and imported from Sweden, the price is $21.
Medium Hesselbjerg Hammer
#5216; Hammers of this general type were distributed widely. They were cut from
a single sheet, and the top was bent over to form the loop. This particular example is
modeled after one found in Hesselbjerg, Denmark. It's over 2 3/4" (71 mm) tall and 1 3/16" wide.
Despite it's size, it's thin and fairly lighweight, about a half ounce in silver.
The price is $35 in silver, and $15 in bronze.
Large Hesselbjerg Hammer
#5217; Hammers of this general type were distributed widely. They were cut from
a single sheet, and the top was bent over to form the loop. This particular example is
modeled after one found in Hesselbjerg, Denmark. It's about 3 7/8" (98 mm) tall and 1 3/4" wide.
Despite it's size, it's thin and fairly lighweight, about .9 ounce in silver.
The price is $50 in silver, and $20 in bronze.
Forging Hammer
#RF-1; This is a solid three dimensional casting, with a quite a bit of weight.
It's a bit more than 1 1/2 inches not including the added ring. With the ring it's about 2 1/4".
tall and has quite a bit of weight.
Cast in silver for $45,
or bronze for $20,
Thor's Head Hammer
#5139, This is another Hammer with the staring face of a bearded
warrior, perhaps Thor himself. It is a very solid casting with deep detail,
about 1 1/2" tall and 1 1/4" wide.
In silver it is $40,
in bronze it is $20.
Thor's Ship Hammer
#5143, Here's a massive Hammer based on the Bornholm Ship, surmounted
with Thor's face. It's over 2" high, and 1 3/8" wide, and weighs almost an ounce in silver.
In silver it is $55,
in bronze it is $20.
Celtic Knotwork Hammer
#5140, Boldly cast with good weight and detail, it is 1.7" tall
and 1.2" wide.
In silver it is $35,
in bronze it is $15.
Two Sided Celtic Hammer
#cc-hammer, Cast with slightly different patterns on each side, this is a contemporary Hammer in the celtic style. It's about 1 3/4" tall and the generously sized suspension hole makes it suitable for wear
on either a chain or leather thong.
In silver it is $40,
In bronze $20.
Dragonhead Hammer
#5210, Another bold casting, this one has a dragonhead in full relief. It's a bit over an inch
and a half tall, and about an inch and a quarter wide.
In silver it is $40,
in bronze it is $20.
Stag Knot Hammer
#5124; The great stag stands at the apex of the four directional
infinity knot. It's about 1 5/8" tall and 1 1/4" wide.
The price is $20 in bronze, $40 in silver.
Rune Hammer
#5106; This is a small hammer with a different design on each side,
as was common practice in the Viking Period. This is a contemporary
design. (1.14"H by 1"W)
The price is $15 in bronze, $25 in silver.
Stag Hammer
#5103; Similar to the Raven Hammer above, this one has a stag's
head with sun and moon symbols. This is also a contemporary design, about
an inch tall.The price is $15 in bronze, $25 in silver.
Ram Hammer
#5104; Similar to the Raven Hammer above, this one has a Ram's head
with an eight spoked wheel. This is also a contemporary design, about an
inch tall and 7/8" wide.
The price is $15 in bronze, $25 in silver.
Sea Eagle Hammer
#5105; A small Hammer with a Sea Eagle combined with sun and moon
symbols, it's a little over an inch tall and an inch wide.
The price is $15 in bronze, $25 in silver.
#108; Another modern desigh about 1 1/4" high and 2/3" wide.
In pewter it's $7.
Pendants
Seated Thor
#5112; This is a close copy of a small bronze figure
found in northern Iceland.
It is thought to depict Thor with his Hammer, and is about 1 1/2" tall.
The price in silver is $40,
and in bronze it is $20.
Shipping and handling is $6 per order (not per item) anywhere in the US.
Standard shipping is by Priority Post, insured if warranted by the value of
the order. This doesn't actually cover the cost in most cases, but it's
easy to calculate, and is my way of saying "thank you". Shipping is available
for most other parts of the world, but usually costs more. Email for a quote. Note;
shipping to Canada can be very slow.
New York State residents should add sales tax.
Most folks use a credit card and the
encrypted secure order form. If you prefer, you can FAX your order to
716-731-3715. I'll need the type of card (Discover, Visa, or Master Charge),
card number and expiration date. If course I'll also need to know what you
are buying, and where to send it. Please include your e-mail
address.
If you don't have a FAX, you can call that same number, and if your
timing is good just speak to me. No collect calls.
If instant gratification is unavailable, you can always send a Postal
Money Order or check to:
Ragweed Forge
PO Box 326
Sanborn, NY 14132
The Postal Snail may be slow, but he's faithful and discreet. Checks may
be held for clearance, so if you're in a hurry, use a money order.
Everything on the page should be on hand and ready to ship. However some
items may be short supply, so if you are ordering by mail, you might want to
e-mail first so that I can hold your item
(ragnar@ragweedforge.com).
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