12th Century Celtic Linear Mammoth Bead Earrings II Mammoth Ivory Bead $43.50

“If we take care of the moments, the years will take care of themselves.”

Northern European Viking history dates from about the 8th century. They were a fierce people who made the most of their large shallow draft longboats to sail long distances up the rivers of England and Europe to attack and plunder. They pillaged far and wide, and, as a result, carried off the adornment materials of many cultures, including Islamic, northern and southern European, as well as Mediterranean.

On a six week dig at Roskilde in Denmark, we came across a small hidden stash of Viking jewelry. Among the superb pieces we found were a number of Celtic earrings that incorporated beads made from mammoth ivory and some, in addition, shimmering gemstone beads. One particularly simple pair struck us as being both historic and contemporary. We designed these French wire drop earrings to emulate these linear Celtic earrings. From a Sterling Silver French earwire hangs a hammered linear wire with matte finish and a dark 20,000 year old fossil mammoth ivory bead.

A simple linear pair of earrings that allows you to display, in a contemporary way, a Celtic heritage.

1 ½ inch high, 1/4 inch wide.