{"product_id":"viking-dragon-pin","title":"Dragon Face Nordic Vikings Pin Pinback Badge Tie Tack","description":"\u003ch2\u003eA Viking Dragon Pin Inspired by the Longships\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis \u003cstrong\u003eViking dragon pin\u003c\/strong\u003e is a pewter dragon or serpent head set on a push pin clasp. It measures about 1 in by 1 in. A color description card comes with it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDragon heads once crowned the prows of Norse longships. This Nordic dragon head pin recalls that fearsome sight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pewter with a push pin clasp\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e About 1 in x 1 in\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIncludes:\u003c\/strong\u003e Color description card on the Vikings\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho Were the Vikings?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe word Viking comes from Old Norse, and the Vikings were seafarers from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The Viking Age ran from the late 8th to the mid-11th century. They raided, traded, and settled across Europe, including Britain and Ireland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eMasters of the Longship\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTheir wooden longships were long, narrow, and light. The hulls sat shallow in the water. A crew could row up a river or land straight on a beach. This speed and surprise made the Vikings so successful. The reverse of the card explains why.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Dragon at the Prow\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe finest ships carried a carved dragon or serpent head on the prow. The Oseberg ship, built around 820, had one. The head was meant to frighten enemies and guard the crew. It also helped identify a ship. A 12th-century Icelandic law told sailors to remove the head near home. Otherwise it might disturb the spirits of the land. This small pewter dragon head follows that carved prow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eStyling and Wearing the Viking Dragon Pin\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWear the Viking dragon pin on a jacket, shirt, tie, or hat. Some wearers pin one to a cap and a second as a Viking tie tack. It makes a fine gift for a student of the sagas or a Norse history fan. Browse related pieces in our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.museumize.com\/collections\/vikings-norsemen-collection\"\u003eVikings and Norsemen collection\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWipe the Nordic dragon head pin with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid harsh chemicals and abrasive cleaners. Store it flat to protect the finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFor More Reading from the Web\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLearn how ship figureheads developed, from the menacing Oseberg dragon to later ships: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/art\/figurehead\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eFigurehead - Encyclopaedia Britannica\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSee the carved serpent head from the Oseberg ship and the law about removing it near land: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencenorway.no\/viking-age-archaeology-culture\/the-serpent-from-the-oseberg-viking-ship-has-been-hidden-in-storage-for-nearly-100-years\/2504030\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eThe Serpent from the Oseberg Viking Ship - ScienceNorway\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFind out how the longship's shallow hull let Vikings sail rivers and land on beaches: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Longship\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eLongship - Wikipedia\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Westair Reproductions","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":32103080919153,"sku":"10075","price":9.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0615\/0537\/products\/fafbb0e0a3528b9cfc7eb000fb31af49.jpg?v=1777661612","url":"https:\/\/www.museumize.com\/products\/viking-dragon-pin","provider":"Museumize.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}