Viking ship salt cellars

Pewter with seven shields

Pewter, seven shields, ship number 1

This viking ship is solid pewter, with seven identical shields on each side.  Even though one dragon head (here, facing left) appears slightly longer-necked than the other, the shields are bi-directional, giving no clear indication of a definite bow and stern to this design.

These are the markings stamped into the underside of the ship.  They are somewhat difficult to make out, but appear to be: written in the form of a circle, "HANDMADE PEWTER 93/7 NO LEAD", and inside those words are "TROLL - TINN A/S" (possibly a company based in Åndalsnes, Norway).  Also on the bottom is a number, either a '6' or a '9'.  The 93/7 may stand for a pewter alloy containing 93% tin and 7% antimony.
This is the front (on the left) and the reverse of the spoon that came with this ship.  Interestingly, the back of the spoon does not show the back of the warrior, but is another view of the warrior's front.  I could find no markings anywhere on the spoon.
This is a close-up of the warrior on the front of the spoon.  He is carrying a shield and a spear, and wearing a helmet.  I do not know the significance of the object on top of his helmet.
Variation 1 - no picture yet
The ship looks identical, but has different markings stamped into the underside.  Written in the form of a circle are the words "TROLL" and "TINN", and possibly another mark difficult to make out.  Inside those words is the letter "A" and something else, also cannot make out.  Beside those markings is the number "9".
Pewter, seven shields, ship number 2

This is similar to a ship shown in H&J as #4256, although this one has a sail (H&J #4256 is the same ship without a sail).  The seven shields are unidirectional, oriented with the dragon head as the front, and patterned the same on each side.  Notice the 'dragon tail' at the stern - it's simply a redesign (removal) of part of the same dragon head shown on the other side.  This makes me wonder if there's a version of this with two dragon heads.

The mast is attached to the inside bottom of the ship.  The bottom of the sail is attached to one shield on each side.  There should be a pennant at the top of the mast; however, this one has broken off.  The word "NORGE" is written in raised lettering across the front of the sail, and there is rope-like detailing along the top of the sail.

These are the markings on the underside of the ship.  In raised lettering, it reads "HÅNDSTØPT", "TPB" and "TINN".
The ship is marked "NORGE" near the top at the bow, in raised lettering.
The ship is marked "TPB" near the bottom at the stern, in raised lettering.
Pewter, seven shields, ship number 3 - no picture yet
I've seen a pewter ship with 7 shields that has a 'bench seat' in the middle of the ship, and on the seat is a tall pole with a pennant at the top.
Pewter, seven shields, ship number 4
This is a really interesting viking ship.  It appears to be a 'homemade' copy, done by making a mold from a commercial pewter viking ship (the pewter 7-shield ship #2, with two heads and no sail), then altering the mold somewhat, and casting the ship in pewter from that mold.  The proportions and many details are too much to be a coincidence.
As with the 'commercial' ship, the shields are unidirectional, oriented with the slightly larger dragon head as the front.  The interior of the ship has a nicely done 'hammered' look (the hammering probably done to the mold, not to the finished ship).
There are no markings on this ship.  It brings up many questions - who made it?  Why?  Did they make more, or only this one?  Where was it made?  If in the US, as seems likely, it's the first I've found not made in Denmark, Norway or Sweden.  I would love to find out more about this ship - the furthest I've been able to trace it was its sale at an auction in Neapolis, Ohio about the year 2001.
The biggest design change to the mold was to the shields.  This is a closeup of them.  They are all the same design (although slight variations due to the handmade nature).  If you look closely, at the center of each shield is a small 5-pointed star.
This is a closeup of one of the dragon heads.  The finishing work on this ship is not as smooth and accurate as on the commercial ships, and it shows the most on the dragon heads, along the edges.  Amateurish work - or minor flaws characteristic of (and expected in) a handmade item?
 
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