Some things just find you. You don’t go looking for them, you don’t plan for them - they simply call you, quietly but insistently, until one day you realize you’re already entangled in their thread. That’s exactly how I ended up making a Viking-inspired bead necklace.

 

It wasn’t a fashion whim or a random craft project. It was something deeper. This necklace is my tribute to the Scandinavian ancestors, to their history and culture. And if I was going to do this, I felt it was only right to research what these necklaces and beads really meant back then.

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The Vikings loved their glass beads - no surprise there - but they also incorporated amber and semi-precious stones into their necklaces. It was the perfect mix of sparkle and earthiness. Most beads were imported; for example, no glass beads have ever been found to have been made in Iceland. Of course, some were crafted by Scandinavian artisans, but the most unique ones likely came from places like the eastern Mediterranean, Central Asia, or the Baltic region.

Sometimes beads were strung between the oval brooches women wore on their shoulders, and sometimes full necklaces were found. And honestly, those glass beads have a good weight to them - it probably felt better to wear them attached to brooches than dangling from the neck. These pieces varied greatly depending on the materials: glass, silver, amber, gemstones… and wealth. The rarer the stone or the more silver involved, the more status the necklace conveyed.

Beads said a lot about the person wearing them. Long, colorful strands of small beads were often punctuated by a few bold, standout pieces - status symbols in their own right. Deep purple, almost black beads were popular, as were those with zigzag or "eye" patterns, some of which may have originated in West Turkestan.

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When I visited Gamla Uppsala, I was mesmerized by these little treasures in the museum and truly regret not grabbing a few from the museum shop. But luckily, the internet exists - and there are sellers who even describe the origin and story of each replica bead (see links at the bottom). I got some handmade replica beads from Etsy and added a few amber and stone beads from here and there.​​​​​​

 

At the heart of my necklace is a handmade Thor’s hammer - a replica from Ödeshög, based on an actual Viking Age pendant. For the Vikings, amulets and pendants weren’t just jewelry - they held deep spiritual and symbolic meaning. Thor’s hammer, or Mjölnir, is probably the best-known example: not just the weapon of the thunder god, but a symbol of protection and strength. Vikings believed it could guard them against chaos and evil.

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I also added two more amulet replicas, both based on authentic finds from the 9th-11th centuries. One is a Borre-style dragon/snake pendant from Birka, Sweden - this artistic style featured complex interwoven animal forms. The snake or dragon was a symbol of power, protection, and hidden forces, often associated with Odin, Thor, or Loki.

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​The other is a replica of a snake pendant found in Gørding, Denmark (c. 1000). In Viking mythology, the snake symbolized the balance between life and death, and this beautifully crafted piece likely belonged to someone of high status - maybe even a seer or shaman. Snakes represented longevity, survival, and the power to ward off evil. They were also linked to Loki and Jörmungandr, the great cosmic serpent.

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These pendants were more than decorative - they were expressions of belief and identity. (And I like to think that mine is, too :)

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As for the materials: I used amber and jet (technically not minerals, but organic stones). The larger necklace, with the pendants and beads, is strung on a thin hemp cord - just like in Viking times—and only larger 10mm jet beads could fit. I also made a smaller amber necklace, centered around a Gotland-style pendant I bought 15 years ago. I call it “replica-ish” because the rock crystal isn’t complete, and back then, no one around here was seriously making Viking jewelry. I honestly can’t even remember where I ordered it from, just that I picked it up in someone’s apartment - which was an adventure in itself. :D

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For the Vikings, beads weren’t just accessories - they were often gifts. According to the Icelandic sagas, gifting was a social obligation, a tool for building alliances, and, in some cases, a clever strategy: if you gave someone a gift they couldn’t repay, they owed you forever. So a well-chosen strand of beads could basically bind someone to you for life. Not bad, right? :D

With the rise of Christianity, bead-wearing faded, and by the 13th century, Icelandic texts referred to them as the trinkets of “old pagan witches.” Some irony there, considering how prayer beads later returned in the form of rosaries. But maybe that just proves the point - beads always held some kind of spiritual significance.

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So why did I feel the call to make one now? Because it felt just like the moment I was drawn to create my own set of runes. This isn’t just a beautiful accessory - it’s a thread in my fate. I wore it for the first time at my first Sigrblót, and I’ll only bring it out on special occasions. It's still a work in progress, though - the main one with Thor’s hammer is heavy!

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The more I learned about the history of beads, the clearer it became: this isn’t just decoration. It’s a message. A tribute. A reconnection with the ancient path - and with those who walked it before us. So be it. As the beads find their places, maybe the stones on my own path will too. :)

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A FEW WORDS ON VIKING BEADS

 

These tiny treasures weren’t just colorful ornaments - they were powerful cultural and spiritual symbols. Studying beads found in Late Iron Age graves reveals not only the technical skill of ancient craftspeople, but also how these objects linked their wearers to distant lands and cultures.

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Interestingly, the basic tools and techniques for making beads haven’t changed much in the past thousand years. A small furnace, a bellows, and a metal rod (called a "dorn") were enough to create beads by wrapping or pulling molten glass. It was almost a spiritual act - a collaboration between human, fire, and material. :)

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It wasn’t just about skill, though. Viking beadmakers didn’t make their own glass; they imported it from the continent or even as far as Constantinople. They also used exotic materials - like pieces of Roman mosaic! - that still captivate us today.

These beads weren’t just beautiful - they meant something. Wear marks tell us they were worn often, and with pride. As one source puts it: “Vikings didn’t have sports cars - but they had glass beads!” A funny but fitting way to show how these items reflected wealth and status. Just like today, people surrounded themselves with what was beautiful and valuable - and for Viking women, beads were the ultimate form of expression.

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Colors and patterns spoke of communities, regions, even families. On Lovö Island, plain red beads dominated - perhaps a kind of local badge of identity. At the port of Hedeby, hundreds of blue beads were found in a pouch mixed with gold coins. Maybe they were even used as currency.

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ANCIENT INSPIRATIONS, MODERN ECHOES

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It’s fascinating how these ancient bead patterns and motifs continue to resonate with modern Scandinavians - sometimes consciously, often unconsciously - and even show up in today’s design. There’s something timeless in the colors and shapes created by those early artisans, something that still inspires today’s makers.

Take the kurbits pattern, for example. This stylized floral motif from Swedish folk art actually echoes medieval artistic traditions. While it wasn’t directly inspired by Viking beads, it shares that same playful, decorative spirit and nature-focused aesthetic that defined early Scandinavian beadwork. Kurbits is just one example of how old motifs became foundational elements in Scandinavian design.

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But this legacy didn’t stop with folk art. Today’s Scandinavian design - renowned for its clean lines and natural materials - also draws from these early forms. The deep blues, amber tones, and earthy colors reflect traditional materials and the natural world. Spirals, twists, and geometric patterns that once adorned glass beads now reappear in textiles, ceramics, even furniture. They're not replicas - but I believe they echo the spirit of ancient aesthetics.

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And the most amazing part? It’s not even a conscious imitation. These motifs and colors are woven into the cultural DNA - threading together past and present. That’s why Scandinavian design feels so timeless: it’s a seamless blend of history and modernity, ancient and fresh, natural and innovative. And that’s what makes it so special. :)

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If you're curious about Viking beads and how they're made, check out the links below for in-depth articles, photos, and sources.

 

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VIKING AGE GLASS BEADS

BEADS FOUND IN ICELAND

Moa Råhlander’s 2017 Master’s Thesis (2017)

If you're feeling inspired to make your own spiritual tool, you can find authentic replica beads (and more!) at this Swedish shop—check out their bead descriptions and blog too:

NORDLYSVIKING

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