Craftsmanship holds great significance in the Viking Age, both economically and culturally. The Vikings are skilled craftsmen and create high-quality items from wood, metal, bone, and textiles. Crafts are essential for producing everything from tools and weapons to boats, jewelry, and clothing.
The blacksmiths produce important weapons such as swords and axes, which are crucial in warfare.
Woodworkers build the famous longships that make the Vikings experts in seafaring and trade.
At the same time, weaving and textile production are important for both clothing and trade.
The crafts also have an important social function. Jewelry such as bracelets and brooches display status and wealth, and the beautiful decorations on many items express the Vikings’ cultural identity and creativity.
Travel and contact with different cultures through trade and conquest lead the Vikings to be inspired by other cultures’ styles and techniques.
Influences from other cultures enrich their own craft traditions, and objects from the Viking Age bear traces of influences from places like the Byzantine Empire, the Middle East, and other parts of Europe.
Written by: Elin Torbergsen