Domed Oval Viking Rosette Brooch
Specifications
| Color | Silver |
| Material | Alloy, antique silver finish |
- For: men & women (adults)
- Antique-silver alloy, domed oval, pin on the back
- Free shipping from 49€ · secure payment
The Shape Most Frequently Yielded by Excavations
This oval Viking fibula is domed: the top rises into a shell, with a rosette in the center, four beast heads in relief at the cardinal points, and a beaded border that runs around it. It is the most common shape found in Scandinavian graves. Find it in our collection of Viking fibulae and brooches.
For the same shape in a flat, openwork version, see the oval brooch with interlaced beasts.
What Distinguishes This Fibula
Volume changes everything: a domed brooch is not perceived the same way as a flat one.
- True relief: the shell catches the light from above and casts a shadow on the fabric, which no flat piece can do.
- Rosette and beast heads: a geometric pattern in the center, animals on the periphery — the classic composition of oblong fibulae.
- Beaded border: a line of raised beads that closes the contour and catches the light on the edge.
- A piece to wear on heavy fabrics: thick wool, capes, coats.
If you are looking for something lighter for thin fabric, the blackened triquetra remains flat.
Specifications
- Material: Alloy, antique silver finish
- Shape: Domed oval, shell top
- Fastening: Straight pin with clasp on the back
- Decoration: Central rosette, four beast heads, beaded border
- Worn on: Capes, coats, thick wool
- Maintenance: Dry cloth, avoid water and perfumes
Did you know?
Domed oval fibulae are so consistent in burials that they serve as an archaeological indicator: finding a pair of these brooches at the shoulders of a skeleton has long been sufficient to identify a Scandinavian woman's grave. They held the straps of the hangerok, an apron-dress worn over the shift, and a small chain often ran from one to the other to hang scissors, a key, or a comb. Their distribution traces the map of Norse expansion: they have been found as far as Russia, Iceland, and L'Anse aux Meadows, Canada.
📖 To learn more: Discover our article on Viking daily life.
♦ Complete Your Viking Collection
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Brooch or hair barrette: which one to choose?
| Type | Where it is worn | What you need to know |
|---|---|---|
| Garment brooch (fibula) this product | On a cloak, a shawl, a coat or a jacket lapel. | These are the largest pieces in the range. Six close with a straight pin and a clasp; two are penannular: an open ring locked by the tension of the fabric, with no spring to wear out. |
| Barrette with a hair stick | In a bun, a braid or a half-up ponytail. | Two pieces: the plate sits on the hair, the stick goes through the lock and holds everything in place. You need enough hair for the stick to go through: with hair shorter than shoulder length, the hold becomes uncertain. |
| Light barrette or clip | On medium-length hair, including fine hair. | The filigree models have a small chain that holds the stick; the flat barrettes close with a clip and need no minimum length. These are the most discreet pieces and the easiest to put in. |
| Medallion barrette | Flat on a half-up ponytail or a low bun. | A solid disc that sits on the gathered lock instead of going through it. It is the shape that needs the least hair length, and the only one that shows a scene rather than an ornament. |
How to wear it
There is no size to choose. A brooch (fibula) is fastened to the fabric, not to the body: the only question is the cloth.
The six straight-pin models are worn like a classic brooch: push the pin through the fabric and close the clasp. They suit a jacket lapel, a shawl or a thick scarf.
The two penannular models (the open ring crossed by a long pin) work differently: pass the pin through the cloth, turn it a quarter turn, and the tension of the garment locks it against the ring. The more the cloak pulls, the tighter it holds. It is the most secure fastening on heavy wool, and the one with no mechanical part to break.
On thin fabric, any pin leaves a mark. These pieces are made for broadcloth, wool and thick linen, not for silk or fine knits.
Care: dry cloth. Avoid water, perfume and silver polish, which remove the patina lodged in the hollows: it is what gives the design all its relief.
Is it really domed?
Yes, distinctly. The top rises like a shell above the level of the pin, which sets it apart from the flat brooches in our range. That is what gives it its presence — and its weight.
Is it suitable for thin fabric?
Not ideally, no. Its bulk and weight call for a wool with some body. On silk or a loose knit, it will pull. Our flat pieces are better suited to those fabrics.
What do the raised shapes around the rosette represent?
Four stylized beast heads, set at the cardinal points and facing outward. It is a recurring layout on Scandinavian oval brooches, where the animal serves as a filler motif.
Was it worn in pairs back then?
Yes, and that was in fact its original purpose. Scandinavian women wore two, one at each shoulder, to hold the straps of an apron dress. Nothing stops you from wearing just one today.
Delivery — Allow 7 to 15 business days for mainland France, 10 to 20 days for the European Union. Free delivery on orders over €49.
Delivery guarantee — If your parcel is not delivered within 60 business days, we will provide an immediate reshipment or a full refund.
14-day returns — You have 14 calendar days from receipt to request an exchange or refund. The item must be returned within this period, in its original packaging.
Legal guarantees — All our products are covered by the legal guarantee of conformity and the guarantee against hidden defects, in accordance with the Consumer Code and the Civil Code.
