Beschreibung:

VIKING CUP-BEARER VALKYRIE AND SKOLL & HATI COSMETIC SPOON 9th-11th century AD A silver implement (76.9% silver, 5.2% gold by XRF) in the form of a elongated spoon with deep dish, collar to the top in the form of a staring beast head to both sides; a flat teardrop-shaped panel with a depiction of a Valkyrie holding a drinking horn to one side, to the other two wolves rearing upon and limbs interlaced; to the top a human head on both sides with staring eyes and cap forming the integral suspension loop; ring threaded through with ends wrapped around. 29 grams, 95mm (3 3/4"). Very fine condition. Excessively rare. Provenance Property of a professional collector; acquired before 1990. Literature Cf. Arbman, H. Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.173, item 1; for the example found at Birka see the Swedish History Museum, Stockholm, accession number 34000. Footnotes Commonly described as ear scoops the high workmanship, and sometimes expensive material, such as the silver-gilt example found at Birka, as well as the subject matter of the images on them, would suggest that they were used as spoons for dispensing medicines or psychotropic substances, or associated with the preparation of mead. This would tie in with the representation on the spoons of the Valkyrie holding a drinking horn of mead, an object that she traditionally welcomed a slain warrior with as they arrived at Valhalla. The meaning of their name, “choosers of the slain,” refers not only to their choosing who gains admittance to Valhalla, but also to their choosing who dies in battle and using malicious magic to ensure that their preferences in this regard are brought to fruition. Examples of Valkyries deciding who lives and who dies abound in the Eddas and sagas.The Valkyries’ gruesome side is illustrated most vividly in the Darraðarljóð, a poem contained within Njal’s Saga. Here, twelve Valkyries are seen prior to the Battle of Clontarf, sitting at a loom and weaving the tragic destiny of the warriors (an activity highly reminiscent of the Norns). They use intestines for their thread, severed heads for weights, and swords and arrows for beaters, all the while chanting their intentions with ominous delight. The example from Birka has a single wolf to one side that has been interpreted as Fenrir, the gigantic wolf that will be freed at Ragnarok. On our example two wolves are seen rearing up and snarling at each other, limbs interlaced. They could be Skoll and Hati, two wolves who chase the sun and the moon and try to devour them. When the two wolves meet in the sky they cause the temporary eclipses of the sun and moon; however, they will succeed in devouring them at Ragnarok. The representation on this spoon of the two wolves meeting could be a visual reference to the eclipse of the sun or moon.