9th-10th century AD. A silver pendant of a female in floor-length robe holding a shield in her right hand and drawn knife in her left, stylised headdress and long plaited(?) band of hair to the rear; pierced lug to the reverse. See Vang Petersen, P. Valkyrier og Bersærker. Mytologien i Smykkekunsten, in Madsen, P.K. (ed.) Danefæ. Skatte fra den Danske Muld, Copenhagen, 2010; Garde?a, L. ‘Warrior-women’ in Viking Age Scandinavia, A preliminary archaeological study in Analecta Archaeologica Ressoviensia, vol.8, Rzeszów, 2013. 8.12 grams, 41mm (1 1/2"). Property of a Cambridgeshire, UK, gentleman; acquired on the UK art market in the 1980s. This pendant resembles a find from Galgebakke, Denmark, a silver figure holding a short sword and clutching a shield by the boss (Vang Petersen, item 4"). The Galgebakke figure is identified as female on the basis of the elaborate crested hairstyle, and an ankle-length dress with tiny feet beneath. The interpretation usually offered for this figure is that of a skjoldmø or 'shield-maiden', a female who takes up arms in pursuit of vengeance such as the legendary Hervor in Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks. Scholars used to interpret these armed females as valkyries - hand maidens of the god Oðinn - but the idea has been challenged recently (Garde?a, 2013"). Very fine condition. Rare.