Here is a piece we were able to photograph at the Viking Exhibit that was at the Field Museum in Chicago this fall.

The piece was based on a mold that was made in soapstone and found at Bjorko, Adelso, Uppland, Sweden.

What is very interesting is the fact that the reconstruction follows the mold piece exactly.  Is that what the artist intended?  If you look at the piece and mold, it becomes pretty obvious that the artist in all probability intended the "sprew" on the mold to be cut off.  The "sprew" does not have any decoration and was simply in the mold to allow the metal to flow to fill the entire piece.

Historical pieces, when we try and reproduce them, are examined and the original artist's intention are considered in the reproductions we make.  This is an excellent example of the work we put to use in our interpretations.

Here is our piece