7th century Scandinavian Guldgubber Warrior

[Druzhina]

The 7th century Scandinavian Warrior in 'Armies of the Dark Ages 600-1066' by Ian Heath is probably based on a
Guldgubber depicting a drinker with a cup without foot (and a spear?). Vendel period. Sorte Muld, Bornholm, Denmark.

A Guldgubber (Gullgubber) [little old man of gold] is some kind of religious object.

Another example of a Guldgubber depicting a staff bearer with a beard. Vendel period. Sorte Muld, Bornholm, Denmark.

Mirror site
7th century Scandinavian Warrior in 'Armies of the Dark Ages 600-1066' by Ian Heath
Guldgubber depicting a drinker with a cup without foot. Vendel period. Sorte Muld, Bornholm, Denmark.
Guldgubber depicting a staff bearer with a beard. Vendel period. Sorte Muld, Bornholm, Denmark.

Druzhina
Scandinavian Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

 

[Adorno]

Guldgubber depicting a drinker with a cup without foot (and a spear?). Vendel period. Sorte Muld, Bornholm, Denmark.

An interesting detail about this image are the shoes, which have high heels.
Perhaps high heels were fashion among high ranking persons.

 

[Druzhina]

The "heels" may be background or sprues to make sure the metal flowed to all parts.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

 

[Adorno]

So you think it's some sort of residue from the production process of the gold image, and not heels?
It's not background since there is no background.

 

[Terco_Viejo]

Magnificent piece and magnificent work of compilation; your site is an oasis of information, thank you for making it possible.

 

[Druzhina]

So you think it's some sort of residue from the production process of the gold image, and not heels?
It's not background since there is no background.

There is also something to fill up the space under his left elbow.

Druzhina
7th Century Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

 

[Adorno]

I have to disagree. It's on both shoes and they are both bending upwards, clearly indicating a high heel.
It's funny that I just read an article about shoes in a historical magazine (that I subscribe to) that referred to that exact image (guldgubber) showing high heels

 

[Druzhina]

I have to disagree. It's on both shoes and they are both bending upwards, clearly indicating a high heel.
It's funny that I just read an article about shoes in a historical magazine (that I subscribe to) that referred to that exact image (guldgubber) showing high heels

That's interesting. Does the article say what proportion of guldgubbers have high heels?

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

 

[Adorno]

No. It's long article (focussing on Medieval shoe production) and it's only mentioned en passant, saying:
... on the gold foils researchers made a quaint discovery: apparently high heels were very fashionable among the forefathers of the Vikings - both among men and women".
And there's an illustration of the guldgubber.

 

[Druzhina]

Thanks