Marzipan Gold Hoard

Posted by Martin R on September 28, 2009
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In 1995 a gold hoard was found at Vittene in Norra Björke parish, Västergötland. Its contents had been amassed over two centuries, and it was committed to the earth in the 3rd century AD. A fine book on the find and subsequent settlement excavations has recently been published and is available in full on-line.

Below is a picture of the Vittene hoard. Above is a picture of a replica of the hoard made of marzipan and gold leaf by Sören Elmqvist for the 1995 Christmas market at the county museum.

Thanks to Niklas Ytterberg for the tipoff.

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Comments

  1. #1 Tobias
    September 28, 2009

    Thanks for the link, which I will read with interest. But right now, I have to watch the live feed from the Ingmar Bergman auction at Bukowskis :o )

  2. #2 ArchAsa
    September 28, 2009

    That was absolutely amazing!! It would practically feel like a crime to eat the stuff.
    Looking forward to the first collection of chocolat funnel-beakers, and battle axes rendered in baloni.

  3. #3 Lassi Hippeläinen
    September 28, 2009

    I’d rather eat a copy of the recent gold pile from Straffordshire. Because it is even bigger than Sutton Hoo…

    “(It is) absolutely the equivalent of finding a new Lindisfarne Gospels or Book of Kells.”
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/staffordshire/8272058.stm

  4. #4 Leif
    September 29, 2009

    Thanks for reminding me. I do remember the marzipan bling bling, and I think I saw at least one of the items for real. If I remember right there was a discussion whether the marzipan should be assimilated into the museum collection or not. Obviously it is part of the collection now.
    I guess the photo is taken by Ola Ericsson, the multitalanted and talkative photographer of the museum.

  5. #5 Martin R
    September 29, 2009

    I never saw the marzipan version, but I was lucky enough to handle the real hoard when it was delivered to the Museum of National Antiquities. Jan Peder Lamm invited me, and Frands Herschend was there too.