Viking shield with carved Vegvisir symbol

This piece features a Vegvisir symbol carved into the plywood, a hand-hammered umbo, and it comes with a wood handlebar installed on the back.
A vegvísir (Icelandic for signpost or Wayfinder) is an Icelandic magical stave intended to help the bearer find their way through rough weather. The symbol is attested in the Huld Manuscript, collected in Iceland by Geir Vigfusson in 1880 (but consisting of material of earlier origin).

The shield is made out of 15mm thick birch plywood, and finished in wood staining technique, treating with linen seed oil and sealing with acrylic varnish.

This shield can be used as a decorative wall hanger or as a functional piece for medieval reenactment or LARP.