The Vale of York Viking hoard
- Audio guide stop: 464
- Gallery: Room 41
- Audio guide: one commentary for a group of objects shown together
- Museum: The British Museum
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About these objects
This is The Vale of York Viking Hoard, a remarkable collection of precious objects from the Viking Age. On display here is a carefully arranged replica of a silver-gilt cup that was part of the original find in North Yorkshire. This cup, and others like it, tells us about trade and craftsmanship in the eighth or ninth centuries, when Viking raiders, traders, and settlers moved across Europe.
The original silver cup was made with intricate designs—vine scrolls, animal figures, and geometric patterns. It shows the high level of skill in metalworking at the time and reflects influences from both Viking and Carolingian styles.
Look for the replica with its beautifully detailed surface—painted to match the original’s silver-gilt appearance. Its design includes roundels with images of a stag, a big cat, and a deer, among others. This kind of decoration suggests the object was not only valuable but also meaningful, possibly used in feasts or rituals.
The real hoard was discovered in 2007, a stunning find of gold and silver, including crosses, coins, and other items. This replica gives you a sense of the beauty and craftsmanship of one of the treasures from this important archaeological site.
See it in person
The Vale of York Viking hoard is on display in Room 41 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and type its audio guide stop number, 464, from the gallery label, or take a photo of it, to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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