Viking Fehu Rune Bead: Wealth that Moves
Specifications
| Color | Bronze |
| Material | Zinc alloy, patinated bronze finish |
| Dimensions | Height: 10 mm | Diameter: 8 mm | Hole: 6 mm |
| For | Unisex |
- For: men and women (adults)
- Zinc alloy, patinated bronze finish
- 6 mm hole · worn on a beard or hair braid
- Sold individually, height 10 mm, diameter 8 mm
- Free shipping from 49€ · secure payment
Fehu, livestock — the only wealth that walks on its own
The first sign of the Elder Futhark, engraved in an oval cartouche on a beard and hair bead made of bronze-patinated alloy. Fehu means livestock: for a pastoral people, it is mobile wealth, counted by the head and taken with you — the exact opposite of land, which does not move.
Find this model in our collection of Viking beard and hair beads.
What sets this beard bead apart
- A meaning captured in one image: fortune that can be led to pasture, as opposed to the immovable domain of Othala.
- The Anglo-Saxon rune poem opens with it: "wealth is a comfort to all men" — but immediately warns that one must know how to share it.
- A slide-on, not a clasp: the bead slides onto the lock of hair before braiding. It is the thickness of the braid that secures it, so there is nothing that can break.
- Bore of approximately 6 mm: the only criterion that really matters. It must be slightly narrower than the finished braid, and slightly wider than the loose lock of hair.
Specifications
- Material: Zinc alloy, bronze-patinated finish
- Inner bore: approximately 6 mm
- Dimensions: approximately 10 mm in height, 8 mm in diameter
- Wear: beard, mustache, or hair, on a braided lock
- Sold: individually
Did you know?
The word has survived everywhere. Fehu gave us the English fee, and is found in the German Vieh, livestock. The Latin pecunia, money, comes from pecus — the herd, as well. Two unrelated languages took the same path: the first currency of Northern Europe walked on four legs.
To learn more, our Viking hairstyle guide details cuts, braids, and beards, with historical sources, and our Futhark alphabet guide reviews each sign one by one.
Complete your set
What does the Fehu rune mean?
Fehu means cattle, and by extension movable wealth — the kind you can take with you, as opposed to an inherited estate. It's the first rune of the Elder Futhark.
Was this rune used in the Viking Age?
Not in this form. Fehu belongs to the Elder Futhark, in use from the 2nd to the 8th century. The Vikings wrote with the Younger Futhark, which has 16 signs and writes this sound differently.
What braid thickness does this bead fit?
The hole measures about 6 mm. It fits a beard braid of medium density or a thin braid of hair. Slide the bead on before braiding: it's the fullness of the braid that holds it in place.
Can it be worn in the hair and not just in the beard?
Yes. The same tube slides onto a temple braid or a braid down the back. In the hair, a single bead placed a third of the way down is enough to set off the braid.
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.
