Authentic Viking Shield for Sale – History, Meaning & Collection

Echte Wikinger Schilde aus Holz – handbemalte Rundschilde in Blau, Rot und Silber mit nordischen Mustern

Authentic Viking Shield – and our collection

Discover our Viking shields made of wood and steel, battle-ready and authentic. Each piece is unique – handcrafted with traditional workmanship.

🛡️Our authentic Viking shields

Our authentic Viking shields combine tradition, authenticity and quality. Each piece is crafted by experienced artisans and convinces with strength and historical accuracy.

Special features:

  • Handcrafted
  • High-quality workmanship
  • Real wood and iron
  • Battle-ready shields

Authentic Viking Shields by Nordskulls Arrow in shield

Materials at a glance

  • 🪵 Wood (light, stable, authentic)
  • ⛓️ Steel rim for extra stability
  • 🔘 Boss made of aluminum or steel
  • ✊🏻 Hand-painted surfaces with runes or patterns

All shields are made of solid wood, reinforced with steel rims and equipped with heavy metal bosses. Each shield is not just decoration, but also robust enough for reenactment or LARP.

Whether for reenactment, LARP or as a collector’s item – with a Nordskulls shield you hold a piece of Norse history that radiates strength and authenticity.

Why buy an authentic Viking shield at Nordskulls?

At Nordskulls we focus on authenticity, quality and attention to detail. Our authentic Viking shields are more than products – they are pieces of history. With each shield you receive a handmade unique piece, based on centuries-old traditions. Whether as a collector’s item, for LARP, reenactment or decoration – a Nordskulls shield is always a statement.

The history of the authentic Viking shield

The authentic Viking shield remains one of the most iconic symbols of Norse warrior culture. During the Viking Age, between the 8th and 11th centuries, shields played a central role in the lives of the Northmen. They were not only used for defense, but also as a status symbol, a mark of belonging and as a canvas for artistic decoration. Whoever owned an authentic Viking shield carried with them a piece of identity, tradition and mythology.

Archaeological finds show that Viking shields were usually made of wood – typically pine, spruce or linden. These woods were light yet stable enough to withstand blows. Shields were often reinforced with a metal rim and an iron or steel boss mounted in the center. This boss was used to deflect attacks or to strike in close combat.

A Viking round shield usually measured 80 to 100 cm in diameter. Some were painted, others decorated with symbols or runes. Colors such as red, blue or yellow were not only decorative but often represented honor, courage or clan affiliation. Thus, each shield became a unique work of art that was also a deadly weapon.

Meaning and symbolism

An authentic Viking shield was more than just protection. It stood for the cohesion of the shield wall – the famous tactic of the Vikings. Shoulder to shoulder, the warriors formed an almost impenetrable wall of shields, able to withstand even cavalry charges. This image still shapes our perception of Viking warriors today.

In addition, the shield was a symbol of the warrior himself. Many shields were decorated with individual symbols – from dragons to knotwork to mythological figures. Particularly popular was the Midgard Serpent JÖRMUNGANDR, encircling the world and symbolizing strength and invincibility.

Craftsmanship then and now

While the Vikings made their shields with the simplest means, modern craftsmen combine traditional design with durable materials. Our authentic Viking shields at Nordskulls are made of solid wood, reinforced with robust steel rims and equipped with massive metal bosses – true to Norse tradition. Each piece is hand-painted and carries its own individual character.

Authentic Viking shields in series & culture

Especially through the series “Vikings”, the shields of the Norsemen have once again moved into the spotlight. Characters such as Lagertha, Torvi or Harald Finehair are inseparably linked to their shields. Their designs are legendary: Torvi’s blue-red shield, Finehair’s yellow shield with red cross, or the mystical JÖRMUNGANDR dragon shield.

These iconic shields inspire not only fans but also collectors, reenactors and LARP players who value authenticity and history. An authentic Viking shield today is no longer just a prop, but an expression of passion for Norse culture.

Viking gods and their meaning

ᚨ Odin – The Allfather
  • Supreme God of the Vikings
  • God of wisdom, magic, poetry and war
  • Sacrificed an eye to drink wisdom from the well of Mímir
  • Symbol: ravens Huginn and Muninn, spear Gungnir, Yggdrasil
ᚦ Thor – The God of Thunder
  • Protector of humans, fighter against giants
  • God of thunder, storms and fertility
  • Weapon: Hammer Mjölnir – symbol of protection and strength
  • Symbol: lightning, hammer amulet
ᛞ Loki – The Trickster
  • God of cunning, deception and transformation
  • Neither clearly good nor evil – unpredictable
  • Father of Fenrir (wolf), Hel (goddess of death) and Jörmungandr (Midgard serpent)
  • Symbol: Fire, Chaos, Shapeshifting
ᛝ Freyja – Goddess of Love & Magic
  • Goddess of love, beauty, fertility and magic (Seidr)
  • Led half of the fallen warriors to Fólkvangr, the other half went to Odin in Valhalla
  • Symbol: Falcon robe, Brísingamen necklace, cat chariot
ᛒ Freyr – God of Peace & Prosperity
  • Twin brother of Freyja
  • God of fertility, prosperity, peace and harvest
  • Got the ship Skíðblaðnir, which always had favorable wind
  • Symbol: Boar Gullinborsti
ᛇ Baldr – God of Light
  • Son of Odin and Frigg
  • God of light, purity and beauty
  • Killed by Loki with a trick using mistletoe → trigger of Ragnarök
  • Symbol: light, purity, innocent youth
ᛗ Frigg – Goddess of Marriage & Family
  • Wife of Odin
  • Goddess of marriage, motherhood, care and prophecy
  • Knew fate, but never spoke it
  • Symbol: spindle, motherhood
ᛚ Njörd – God of the Sea
  • Father of Freyr and Freyja
  • God of the sea, seafaring, wealth and wind
  • Lived in Noatun (“Ship Home”)
  • Symbol: ships, sea, prosperity
ᚲ Hel – Goddess of the Underworld
  • Daughter of Loki
  • Ruler of Helheim, realm of the dead who did not fall in battle
  • Depicted half-dead and half-alive
  • Symbol: Underworld, transition between life and death
ᛏ Tyr – God of War & Honor
  • Oldest war god of the Vikings
  • Stand for courage, justice and bravery
  • Sacrificially sacrificed his hand when Fenrir was bound
  • Symbol: sword, scales, hand offering
ᚺ Heimdall – Guardian of Asgard
  • God of vigilance, guardian of the rainbow bridge Bifröst
  • Heard everything, saw everything, blew his Gjallarhorn at the beginning of Ragnarök
  • Symbol: Horn, Rainbow Bridge
ᛉ Jörmungandr – The Midgard Serpent
  • Giant snake, child of Loki
  • Orbits the whole world and will fight Thor in Ragnarök
  • Symbol: Snake, End Times
ᛟ Fenrir – The World Wolf
  • Also child of Loki
  • Giant wolf, bound until Ragnarök
  • Will devour Odin in the final battle
  • Symbol: Wolf, Chaos, Fate