700-1100 AD, Viking Age. A bronze bracelet with rounded terminals and incised interlocking crosses. In Viking society, arm rings and bracelets were not just decorative, but also served to mark bonds of loyalty between a lord and his followers in a culture where honour was a matter of life and death. Such items were also given to young men to mark their coming of age and bracelets of precious metals were also used as currency in a time before the widespread availability of coinage. Good condition; Size: L:40mm / W:65mm ; 20.3g; Provenance: Obtained from P.C. ; previously in a collection formed since the 1980s on the UK and European art market.