Talismansthe gallery← talismans.guru
Norse, Germanic, Baltic & Slavic · c. 500 BCE – 1900 CE

Scandinavian, Finnish & Sámi folk charms

Meaning

Scandinavian and Finnish folk amulets gathered protective power from many sources: silver (hated by trolls), iron and steel, bear teeth and claws, Stone Age axes found in fields (taken for thunderbolts), holed stones, crosses, and knots.

Intent

They protected people, livestock and houses against trolls, the evil eye, illness and bad luck, and were carried, sewn into clothes, hung in cowsheds or put under thresholds. Stone Age axes were kept in the house against lightning.

Significance

They record living beliefs in trolls, the underground people and witchcraft into the 19th and early 20th centuries, carefully documented by Nordic folklorists and ethnographic museums.

History

Most were collected in the 19th and early 20th centuries from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia and the Sámi, though many practices are much older.

Making yours
Very varied. Collect natural objects and bind them with pewter wire or leather thong.
Norse, Germanic, Baltic & Slavic: the tradition

In pre-Christian Scandinavia and the Germanic world, protection came from the gods and from signs: Thor's hammer, runes, gold bracteates stamped with Odin. Amber from the Baltic shore had been carved into amulets since the Stone Age. Christianisation from the 9th to 11th centuries produced hybrid objects such as crosses cast in the same moulds as hammers. In the Slavic East, Byzantine Orthodoxy met older fever and serpent beliefs to produce the zmeevik. Scandinavian and Finnish peasant culture kept a strong tradition of protective objects against trolls, the evil eye and illness into the 19th and 20th centuries, documented by folklorists and now in the ethnographic museums of Stockholm, Oslo and Helsinki.

See all 582, save the ones that feel rightAsk about having one made
Utvekst amuletUtvekst amuletJewelleryJewelleryBraceletBraceletAmulet [textil]Amulet [textil]AmuletAmuletMagi, fruktbarhetsamulett, prydnadsföremål, token amulet from SwedenMagi, fruktbarhetsamulett, prydnadsföremål, token amulet from SwedenSweden · 1973Inkų amuletas – pinigasInkų amuletas – pinigasLithuania · 2025Runinskrift amulet from SwedenRuninskrift amulet from SwedenSweden · 1971Föremålsporträtt, föremålsbild, necklace, photograph amulet from SwedenFöremålsporträtt, föremålsbild, necklace, photograph amulet from SwedenSweden · 2002spiritus familiaris, lyckoamulett, spiritusspiritus familiaris, lyckoamulett, spiritusSweden · 1911Amulet, faience, Horus eyeAmulet, faience, Horus eyeSweden · 2007Kaelakee-talismanKaelakee-talismanEstonia · 1970AmuletAmuletAmuletAmuletgau-matka-alttarigau-matka-alttariFinlandAmulet case from FinlandAmulet case from FinlandFinlandAmuletas, dalisAmuletas, dalisLithuaniaPakabutis amuletas su vaiko fotonuotraukaPakabutis amuletas su vaiko fotonuotraukaLithuaniaAmulet from SwedenAmulet from SwedenSwedenAmulet from SwedenAmulet from SwedenSwedenMagiska medel, björntänder, piernatjalanah amulet from SwedenMagiska medel, björntänder, piernatjalanah amulet from SwedenSwedenGivaren är dottersonsdotter till ägarenGivaren är dottersonsdotter till ägarenSwedenKat nr 079 Amulett av brons, från DanmarkKat nr 079 Amulett av brons, från DanmarkSwedenTankering amulet from Ukjent stedTankering amulet from Ukjent stedUkjent stedBjørnetann amulet from Norge, Finnmark, KautokeinoBjørnetann amulet from Norge, Finnmark, KautokeinoNorge, Finnmark, KautokeinoJewellery amulet from Norge, Finnmark, Sør-VarangerJewellery amulet from Norge, Finnmark, Sør-VarangerNorge, Finnmark, Sør-VarangerReinsene amulet from Norge, FinnmarkReinsene amulet from Norge, FinnmarkNorge, FinnmarkBjørnetann amulet from Norge, Finnmark, NessebyBjørnetann amulet from Norge, Finnmark, NessebyNorge, Finnmark, NessebyMALV: ST. L. 32 B. 21 T. 2 MM, OVALFORMET MED HEMPE. 1MALV: ST. L. 32 B. 21 T. 2 MM, OVALFORMET MED HEMPE. 1NorwayAmulet from SwedenAmulet from SwedenSwedenSmaller quadratic amulet with motifs of a dog executed in graaltechniqueSmaller quadratic amulet with motifs of a dog executed in graaltechniqueSwedenAmulet from SwedenAmulet from SwedenSwedenAmulet from SwedenAmulet from SwedenSwedenamulettring av järnamulettring av järnSwedenKabutis-amuletasKabutis-amuletasLithuaniaAmuletas iš bebro (?) kauloAmuletas iš bebro (?) kauloLithuaniaAmuletasAmuletasLithuaniaKabutis (amuletas)Kabutis (amuletas)LithuaniaAmulet from SwedenAmulet from SwedenSwedenAmulet from LaplandAmulet from LaplandLaplandEn medaljong i formen av en blomma, formgiven med hänsyn till vattenmolekylens utseendeEn medaljong i formen av en blomma, formgiven med hänsyn till vattenmolekylens utseendeSkåne CountyAmulet from SwedenAmulet from SwedenSwedenAmulet from SwedenAmulet from SwedenSwedenDreng med amuletDreng med amuletDenmarkAmuletas, raginisAmuletas, raginisLithuaniaWikander, Örjan (1981) "The Comparative Collection: Early Antique Collecting in Sweden" in Medelhavsmuseet BulWikander, Örjan (1981) "The Comparative Collection: Early Antique Collecting in Sweden" in Medelhavsmuseet BulGermanyAmulet from CyprusAmulet from CyprusCyprusLiten pung eller pute (h ca 4 cm) av rødt og blått klede med tinntrådbroderi og vedheng av tinntråd med messsiLiten pung eller pute (h ca 4 cm) av rødt og blått klede med tinntrådbroderi og vedheng av tinntråd med messsiSørsamisk områdeArmring, bangle amulet from Republic of the CongoArmring, bangle amulet from Republic of the CongoRepublic of the CongoDemocratic Republic of the CongoDemocratic Republic of the CongoDemocratic Republic of the CongoBeltering med nålehus, amulettBeltering med nålehus, amulettNorge, Finnmark, TanaAmulett - skarabeusAmulett - skarabeusEstoniaFallos amulettFallos amulettEstoniaFigure, sculpture amulet from SwedenFigure, sculpture amulet from SwedenSwedenamulet, pendant, tsovvehtahke (S), Sami costumes, costumeamulet, pendant, tsovvehtahke (S), Sami costumes, costumeSwedenAmulet in the form of a resinAmulet in the form of a resinSwedenamulet, plateamulet, plateSwedenAmulet from SwedenAmulet from SwedenSwedenSculpture amulet from EgyptSculpture amulet from EgyptEgyptFoto i svartvitt visande lastmotorfartyget "TALISMAN" av Tönsberg under bogsering i Köpenhamn, 1930-talet.Foto i svartvitt visande lastmotorfartyget "TALISMAN" av Tönsberg under bogsering i Köpenhamn, 1930-talet.Sweden

More from Norse, Germanic, Baltic & Slavic: Thor’s hammers (Mjölnir) · Bracteates
Every type in the gallery

Anything in the gallery can be made, by hand, in the prescribed metal or yours and, where the tradition names an hour, at that hour or with a plain note that it was not. Numbered. Price on commission, quoted first. I reply within one business day.