Norway 2005
The results of the silver casting demonstration: The large objects at the left of the picture are unfired moulds made from a mixture of clay and horse dung from a Norwegian fjord pony. When the moulds are fired to burn out the wax model, (lost wax casting) the partly digested grass fibres from the horse dung are also burned away leaving microscopic air chanels which help in the casting process.
Objects in silver from left to right: Strap end, Three miniature axe heads, miniature spear head, and four small disc brooches. The unpolished items retain some or all of the sprue which was later trimmed off during finishing. All items were cast during the 2005 Karmøy Viking Festival except the polished brooch which was cast by the same team at the 2004 Festival. Brooch diameter approx 32mm.
To the right of the picture is the remains of the mould used to cast one of the brooches