Key Objects
The Valþjófsstaður Door
Key Object for the Time Period 1200-1400
The Valþjófsstaður door, a church door in the Romanesque style dating from about 1200 AD, is believed to have been carved in Iceland. In its original form it is thought to have een one third taller, with three roundels. The door ring is inlaid with a silver rosette design.
The upper roundel depicts a well known medieval tale, Le Chevalier au Lion, in three episodes. At the bottom we see a knight with his hunting falcon. He kills a dragon which has caught a lion, and then the lion is depicted gratefully following the knight. Finally, the lion lies at the knight’s grave, mourning him. The grave is inscribed in runes: Behold the mighty king here buried who slew this dragon. In the lower roundel are four interlaced dragons.
Many medieval Icelandic churches were ornamented with woodcarving, but the Valþjófsstaður door is the only carved door still in existence. It remained in use in successive churches at Valþjófsstaður until 1851.