Total length 42 cm.
Width 10 cm, weight 430 g.

 

The Viking Thrusting Spear was more commonly used than the sword, being much less expensive to produce. The wings or lugs, of Frankish origin, both limited the penetration of the weapon and provided an effective parrying guard. This decorated spearhead demonstrates the Viking’s creative mix of art and war, whereby weapons often carried intricate patterns, created using the "Niello" process. This involved using an alloy of several metals (notably silver) mixed with sulphur which was rubbed into an incised pattern and then fired. Where the alloy is rubbed into the engraving it remains black, while the rest of the surface is polished to a bright finish. Our decorating process uses a little more technology but still provides a lustrous, permanent Niello-like effect.