GENUINE ANTIQUE VIKING BEAD ANCIENT ARTIFACT Free Worldwide shipping ! Start Price USD 35.00 Current Price USD 35.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Friday, November 21, 2008 End Time Friday, December 05, 2008 Location Belleair Beach, Florida See more about 'GENUINE ANTIQUE VIKING BEAD ANCIENT ARTIFACT' Description Thank you for viewing my auction. I have been collecting for almost 50 years and purchased all my items from the most reputable sources but mostly at auction in London. The majority of purchases were made in the 1960's-80's when good things were available on a regular basis. I will be selling over 1000 items in the next few months so be sure to bookmark the Sunnytampa seller page as I will be adding rare and interesting items on a regular basis. Read our feedback and bid with confidence. Vikings occupied about half of what is today, England, from 866-1067.  They farmed and ran small industries working in wood, iron stone and glass.  With a history of conquest and plunder,  beads were an important part of their culture and they produced them in the English settlement of York which they called Jorvik.  .Excavations in the 1970’s and 80’s revealed a great deal of information about Viking culture and manufacturing and  beads exactly matching this one are preserved from those excavations. Details to access that information accompany the bead.  It is among the largest at 11.8 mm (under ½ inch) diameter  and hand wound over a mandrel which was then removed leaving the hole.  You cans see the taper of the hole which allowed the mandrel to be removed.  The comparable example which is published is the exact color and as it is photographed under strong light, the imperfections within show.  If you hold this bead to a light, exactly the imperfections show, leading to the conclusion that it was produced in the York England same shop as the published museum bead.  This is a fine antiquity and would be the centerpiece of a modern jewelry creation.  Condition is as shown.  98VP Shipping is free Worldwide with the purchase of this item. Payment: Your choice of Paypal, Visa, MasterCard, or U.S. Postal Money Order. View 100's of Rare and Ancient Beads in my Ebay Store! Place a Bid!