Kalevala Jewelry (Kalevala Koru).
Necklace is known as Kalannin Kalmumäen Riipus - The Kalanti Burial Mound Pendant.
Necklace is made of Bronze and has KK stamped at the back (see picture). Pendant from the top loop until the 'dangles' is 10,5cm long. Dangles are all present and in good condition (they are not bent). Chain is circa 52cm long made of double loops. Note! There is one loop that has 'lost' it's partner, (see last image where chain turns left, and at the bottom of the loop you can see it when zooming in). It will not prevent use as the chain is thick (I have used the necklace on many occasion). Necklace is old and you can see patina on the chain and the pendant from years of use.
Necklace type was manufactured by Kalevala Koru between 1940-1980, however from the stamp (kk only) it can be seen that this is the earlier 1950's production, as it does not have the 'made in Finland' stamp that the later versions carry. No original box.
History
This is the
Model 196 pendant, commonly associated with historic archeological finds from the
Kalanti or
Janakkala regions of Finland. It is inspired by the chain holders used in traditional Viking-era or early medieval Finnish dress—specifically modeled after elements from the "Häme festive necklace" dating back to around
800 AD.
The Archaeological Source: The pendant is an exact replica of an Iron Age bronze chain-carrier ornament excavated from a 9th-century burial mound in Kalmumäki, Kalanti (located in Southwest Finland)
The Paradise Motif: The central design depicts two long-necked peacock birds standing face-to-face beneath a cathedral-like archway, guarding a heart-shaped "fountain of life".
The Dangles: The flat, spade-shaped dangles attached to the lower loops are typical of early Finnic and Viking-era ornamentation, designed to softly clink together to ward off evil spirits