Gold Horn Pendant Bronze with Leather Chain

The famous gold horn made of bronze for a necklace with a leather cord.

One of the most well-known finds from the Viking Age is, of course, the gold horns, which in 1802 suffered the terrible fate of being stolen and presumably melted down. Fortunately, detailed drawings of the horns had been made, and copies have since been created, which can still be seen at the National Museum in Copenhagen to this day.

It is believed that the original gold horns were made around the year 400, and they were decorated with both Nordic and Roman motifs. The longer of the two horns was found in a field in Gallehus near Møgeltønder in Southern Jutland in the year 1639. Almost 100 years later, in the year 1734, the short horn was found just a few meters from where the long horn lay. The short horn bears a runic inscription that has been translated to: ”I Lægæst, son of Holt (or from Holt), made the horn.”

The gold horn is 5.5cm long and 0.9cm wide at its widest end. The leather cord is included and is 50cm long.