Figure in smiling miniature that is believed to be the first Vikingo

The National Museum of Denmark has presented what it described as the first “portrait” of a Viking: a miniature figure of the 10th century that represents a man with an imperial mustache, braided beard and carefully hasty hairstyle.

Carved in via Morsa Ivory, the partially damaged representation of a head and torso measures only 1.2 inches).

“If you think of the Vikings as wild or wild, this figure is demonstrating otherwise, in reality. It is very well fixed,” Curator Peter Pentz told News on Wednesday, holding the piece with hands with white guided.

“It has a center that separates from the top of its head, and then the hair is cut,” Pentz said.

It has a side wave that leaves the visible ear and, in addition to a large mustache and a long and braided knob, it has pins.

During the Viking era, beautiful hair was a sign of wealth and status, Pentz explained.

“A hair design like yours, which is very tidy, you can see some curl or lock of hair running on the ears, (suggests) this type is at the top.”

“It could be King himself, King Harald Bluetooth.”

The work of art, which is believed to be an old piece of board game that represents a king, was originally found in the Oslo Fjord in Norway in 1796.

He has been hidden and forgotten in the archives of the National Museum of Denmark since then.

When Pentz stumbled upon the figure in the museum’s big collections a few years ago, he said he felt that the Vikingo was looking directly.

Its detailed sizes contrast with other existing representations of Vikings, in things such as coins, which present few or no individual details or facial expressions.

The art of the Viking age is known for its characteristic animal motifs, but it rarely portrays humans.

“This is the first thing that approaches a portrait of the Viking period I’ve seen,” Pentz said.

“The most surprising thing for me is its expression. Most of the Vikings representations of human figures are quite simple, and are not really as humans,” he said.

But this is unique with your attention to detail.

“It looks diabolical, some people say. But I think it seems more that has only been telling a joke or something. He is smiling.”

• Viking
• Norway
• Denmark