Thorshammer Schonen, Gold 585

Thor's Hammer Schonen, Gold 585

An incredible piece! The Thors hammer pendant is made from solid high quality 585er gold. With a weight of almost 24 grams, the piece is a real investment! The size of the chain hole was slightly extended to 4mm, to attach chains up to about 4mm thickness. Upon request, the center of the Thors hammer can be decorated with a gem, for example a red garnet or amber.
In any case, the Thors hammer pendant is unrivaled for its size, weight, detailed surface finish and precious material. The inspiration was a find from the southern Swedish province of Schonen (Skåne), which I reduced to an appealing size. 

Size 35x30mm, handmade from solid 585 yellow gold. Supplied with leather strap and certificate.

Thor's hammer pendant, Gold 585

To receive a god´s protection and support, people wear amulets and charms since the stone age until today.
In viking burials, mostly of woman and children, several specimens of miniature hammers were found, symbol of the god Thor and his magical weapon Mjoelnir. While christians wear crosses as sign of their belief, the pagan germanic people in northern europe wore Thor´s hammer as jewellery and amulets. Remarkable is a casting mould from the viking settlement Haithabu in northern Germany, showing a cross at one side and a Thorshammer at the other.
Also the famous amulet from iceland in shape of a cross turned upside down with animal head (No. 078001 / 078002) shows the unity of christian and pagan belief in this particular time of history.
In ancient germanic literature, Thor is described as an impulsive hothead, but also good-natured with a sense of humor. He was a strong protector for the warriors, without deception and too much shrewdness.The sound of his carriage, being pulled by magical goats, is the thunder in the sky, and the hammer Mjoelnir is the lightning, smashing his enemie´s bones and returning to it´s owner.

An extraordinary find was made in southern Sweden in the region of  Schonen. This stunning Mjoelnir hammer shows, that even in the 10th century wealthy vikings of the upper class were still pagans.