Viking Art: From Ships and Swords to Ornate Brooches

The Museum of Cultural History in Oslo houses three major Viking ships—Gokstad, Tune, and Oseberg—discovered as burial vessels. The Gokstad ship (ca. 890 BCE) carried 32 shields and 34 men; grave goods included a gaming board, kitchen utensils, and animal remains. The Tune ship (ca. 910 BCE) was the first Viking ship found but poorly documented. The Oseberg ship (early 9th century) held two aristocratic women and ornate decorations. The Langeid sword (91 cm) features Christian symbols on its hilt. An oval brooch (11.4 x 7.5 x 4.3 cm) from the Metropolitan Museum of Art exemplifies Viking metalwork. Vikingsholm, a 1929 Viking-inspired castle in Lake Tahoe, was designed by Swedish architect Lennart Palme for Lora J. Knight.