Norse society during the Viking Age had an incredible array of artistic designs and themes. These photos show
shield designs The Vikings of Bjornstad have seen and liked. We'd be happy to see them, and others based on them, at our events.
As always, check with our Authenticity Officer if you think you've wandered into questionable territory.
In many instances, we do not have enough concrete knowledge available from extant archaeological finds, concurrent illustration,
sagas or other sources, to make an accurate and informed decision as to whether or not the
Vikings utilized a broad palette of unique
and individual shield designs, such as we see portrayed in the movies and other reenactment groups.
The evidence is just too sparse.
Current shield design research is presented
here and
this quote is from
Hurstwic: “Some surviving shields show evidence of
paint (mineral pigments ground into an oil base) on the wood surface, suggesting that they were not covered. Either way, shields were
probably painted and decorated. The shields on the Gokstad ship were painted black and yellow. A Viking-age shield recently found at
Trelleborg was painted red and white, in accordance with the requirements of the old Norwegian law codes. The sagas suggest that carrying a
red shield signaled hostile intent (e.g., Eiríks saga rauða chapter 11).” The finds at the Gokstad ship indicate a limited selection of
designs, with geographical and timeframe constraints in place.
Reenactors and others will sometimes utilize the methodology of experimental archaeology to see if a shield design would have been
possible in the Viking age, given the examples of art styles represented during that period. While this is not hard archaeological evidence,
it is certainly plausible that the Vikings may have done or used things that we currently have no visible record or supporting findings.
Using that approach, it may be possible to utilize shields with
speculative designs in
Viking reenactment, with the caveat that when
describing or presenting the shield, a disclaimer must be made that the object is not an accurate representation of
Viking era findings,
but a modern experiment closely based on historical and archaeological information.
A further note on shields in the Viking Age...keep in mind that there are geographical considerations to what you are using, as well as the
timeframe of the six art styles of the Viking Age. Is your shield from the same area as the individual you portray or are you mixing and matching?
If you are, be prepared to tell how you might be carrying a Rus shield in Ireland. If you’re portraying an 8th century Viking, you shouldn’t be
using a shield design from the end of the Viking Age. Please be consistent with your Viking kit items and your shield.
The Vikings of Bjornstad
The Vikings of Bjornstad Shield Design Gallery
