Billing Boats Viking Ship Oseberg 1/25 Scale Wood Model Ship Kit NEW RARE

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Billing Boats Viking Ship Oseberg 1/25 Scale Wood Model Ship Kit NEW RARE:
$299.99

New - RARE

Vintage Billings Oseberg Viking Ship 1:25 WoodModel Kit

This is incredible Oseberg Viking Boat Kit from Billings, is a very rare find, indeed. I would have love to build this one, but time constraints say otherwise. Everything is included as shown and it is like NEW for the year and condition. All pieces accounted for, although in the large section some pieces either fell out of the holder or were taken out, at one point. They were replaced and accounted for and I shrink wrapped those two boards, so they would not fall out or get lost. Hard to tell, but you have to be honest. That was the way it came when I purchased it. I, myself purchased a different kit to build, a few months ago and when I went to open it, that \"NEW Unopened\" Kit had half the hull built and started. It\'s a very large box, hence the extra shipping fee.

Specifications
1:25 scale replica of the famous Viking Longboat, Oseberg. The Oseberg was found in Norway in 1903 in Vestfold, Norway. Amazingly preserved, the ship was built in the late 800\'s and is perhaps the finest example of the sleek Viking Longboat. 45cm tall (17.72 in), 86cm long (33.86 in), 21cm wide• Skill Level - Experienced model builder: Once you have built a few models, you will probably find the sets in this category well within reach. Some of the more detailed work at the experienced level is left up to you.
• Add a water proof varnish if you plan to float this model

Set Contents
Wooden hull, laser cut wooden parts, wooden strips, detailed fittings, cloth sail, rigging thread and instructions.

Recommended Accessories
Billing Boats designer tool kit item number BTS 5715 sold separately.

History
Believed to be the burial mound of the Viking Queen Aasa, the discovery of the Oseberg grave ship was one of the most significant discoveries of the Viking Age. The Oseberg ship was found in Norway at Oseberg in Vestfold in 1903. The Oseberg mound beside the Oslo fjord in southwest Norway, was excavated a year later and contained the most richly furnished burial known from the Viking Age. The burial chamber was set behind the mast of an elegant ship> The Oseberg now resides in the Viking Ship Museum Bygdøy, Norway. The tree ring dating has shown that the oaks used to create the burial chamber were felled in the year 834 AD and that is how scholars were able to determine the burial date.

When the Oseberg Queen was buried she brought with her extraordinary artifacts to assist her in the journey into the afterlife. Although her jewelry had been robbed in antiquity, the quantity and sumptuous nature of the remaining grave-goods indicated her high status and family wealth. Among the remaining artifacts were a wagon, four sleds, several horses, a tent, five beds, storage chests, an oil lamp, food, assorted kitchen tools and a wall hanging tapestry.

Grave ships have unearthed the most important archeological finds. The custom of ship burials was practiced by kings, chieftains, and wealthy men and women from the 5th-century AD onward. The belief that one could travel to the after life by boat was very popular and dates back to the time of ancient Egypt. These ships were outfitted with all the needs of Viking life and are excellent clues as how people of that time lived. Kitchen utensils, weaving tools, jewelry, wagons and sleds were all provided for the journey into the after life. Horses, oxen and other animals were sacrificed and added to the ship graves. Wall hangings, rich clothing, food such as apples, nuts, grains, herbs, spices and vegetables have been found in abundance. Horns of cattle were carved in ornamental fashion and fitted with metal mounts. These were used for beer and mead on the journey to the spirit world. Loaded with all these goods, ships were sometimes set adrift on the water and set on fire. The belief was that the soul was released by the flames and could travel more quickly to the after life.

The skeletons of two women were found in the grave. One was aged 60-70 who suffered badly from arthritis and other maladies; the second was aged 25-30. It is not clear which one was the more important in life. One of the women was dressed in layers of fine blue silk, a symbol of great wealth because blue dye and silk were hard to come by. The other is believed to be a servant, but it is not clear whether she was sacrificed to accompany the other in death. The opulence of the burial rite and the grave-goods suggests that this was a burial of very high status. Although the high-ranking woman\'s identity is unknown, it has been suggested that it is the burial of Queen Åsa, spelled Aasa in Old Norse and pronounced \"Awe-sah\", of the Ynglinge clan, pronounced \"Ing-ling-eh\", mother of Halfdan the Black and grandmother of Harald Hårfagre \"Harold the fair-haired\", Norway\'s fist king.

The Ynglinga Saga tells the story of a neighboring chieftain named Gudrodr who asked Aasa\'s father, Harald Redbeard, for her hand in marriage. Harald\'s refusal caused Gudrodr to return with and army of men and kill Harald and his son Gyrr, in a surprise attack at night in their home. Gudrodr carried off huge quantities of plunder, kidnapped Aase and brought her aboard his ship then forced her to marry him. After several days of heavy drinking in celebration of the event, Gudrodr was killed with a spear by Aasa\'s servant. According to ancient Scandinavian customs this was well within Aasa right. People were allowed to avenge the wrongful deaths of family members by \"blood right\".

Later in life, Queen Aasa selected a bog on her farm for her burial site. This bog helped to preserve the wooden grave goods including the Oseberg ship itself. The ship was a masterpiece of architecture and ornamentation and was probably used as a luxury yacht, rather than a deep sea going vessel.