Disc-shaped Animal Ornament in Style I

Wheel motifs with three and four spokes shaped like animal heads were common throughout all the Germanic styles preceding the Viking Age.

This design, based on several bracteates, is a predecessor to similar motifs in the following styles all up to the end of the Viking age. But sun-wheel motifs was a popular motif even long before the Germanic Iron age as is evident from many Nordic Bronze age (c. 1700-500 BC) items like the Trundholm sun chariot.

This type of motif is found throughout Scandinavia.

Check out the article on Style I here:
The Anatomy of Germanic Art: Style I