The National Museum of Denmark yesterday unveiled what it described as the first “portrait” of a Viking: a miniature 10th-century figurine depicting a man with an imperial mustache, braided beard and neatly groomed hairstyle.
Carved out of ivory walrus tusk, the partially damaged representation of a head and torso measures just 3cm.
“If you think of Vikings as savage or wild, this figure is proving the opposite, actually. He is very well-groomed,” curator Peter Pentz said, holding up the piece with white-gloved hands.
Photo: AFP
“He has a center parting up to the top of his head, and then in the neck his hair is cut,” Pentz said.
He has a side wave that leaves the ear visible, and, in addition to a large mustache and a long, braided goatee, he has sideburns.
During the Viking era, beautiful hair was a sign of wealth and status, Pentz said.
“A hair design like his, which is very neat — you can see a little curl or tuft of hair running over the ears — [suggests] this guy is at the top,” he said.
“He could be the king himself, King Harald Bluetooth,” he added.
The artwork, which is believed to be an ancient board game piece representing a king, was originally found in the Oslo fjord in Norway in 1796.
It has been tucked away and forgotten in the archives of the National Museum ever since.
When Pentz stumbled upon the figurine in the museum’s large collections a few years ago, he said it felt like the Viking was looking right at him.
Its detailed carvings contrast with other existing depictions of Vikings — on things like coins — that feature little or no individual details or facial expressions.
Viking Age art is known for its characteristic animal motifs, but rarely portrays humans.
“This is the first thing that comes close to a portrait from the Viking period that I’ve seen,” Pentz said.
“The most surprising thing for me is his expression. Most Viking renderings of human figures are quite simple, and they are not really human-like,” he said.
This one is unique with its attention to detail.
“He looks devilish, some people say, but I think he looks more like he’s just been telling a joke or something like that. He’s smiling,” Pentz said.
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