A silver Scandinavian pendant of Riddarholmen type with integral loop; the openwork plaque with banded border and four panels, internal stylised zoomorph with hatched panel to the hip, gripping three-fingered hands to the body and border, two detailed feet, clearly visible facing mask below the loop with pellet eyes. 5.48 grams, 32 mm

Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s.
Westminster collection, central London, UK.

Cf. Korshyn, V.E., Yazicheskiye Priveski Drevniye Rusi X-XIV Vekov, Moscow, 2013, items K.2.01-03.

Riddarholmen type pendants were also widespread in the historical Rus region centred on Kiev.

A sheet-gold hammer amulet formed by doubling a single gold sheet; bifacial pellet ornament tracing the perimeter of the hammer and a central motif mimicking the broad plan of the weapon; suspension loop formed within the fold at the neck. 1.57 grams, 20 mm

Acquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.

The techniques used to manufacture this pendant (working sheet gold and granulation) had been in the repertoire of the Scandinavian goldsmith since the Iron Age and formed part of the manufacturing process for bracteate pendants and other jewellery items (Reynolds Brown, K. et al., From Attila to Charlemagne. Arts of the Early Medieval Period in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 2000, p.15-16, 310-1).

A bronze female garniture comprising: two tortoise brooches each with pin-bar and catch to the reverse, one with remains of fabric; two D-shaped openwork chatelaines with scroll detailing and loops to the lower edge; chains of varying length supporting utensils including a small hone or whetstone, a crotal bell, a firesteel formed as a steel arc in a bronze frame with horse-head finials, a cosmetic scoop, an equal-arm brooch, a second chatelain with chains and bell-shaped pendants, a model knife-sheath, a latch-lifter with pierced-disc finial, another crotal bell; the two groups linked by a longer chain of larger links. 571 grams total, 8.2-33.5 cm

Acquired 1971-1972.
From the collection of the vendor's father.
Property of a London, UK, collector.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11648-198857.

Cf. Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, plate 58, for tortoise-brooch types.

A suite of bronze and iron fittings for a display belt including a buckle with openwork plate, tongue-shaped end, rectangular repoussé mounts, some with slots to the lower edge to accept a strap to mount a purse, knife or other item, strap-distributor with circular central element and three attachment mounts. 130 grams total, 17-97 mm

Acquired 1971-1972.
From the collection of the vendor's father.
Property of a London, UK, collector.

Cf. Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.39, 86, 88-91.

A superb chip-carved saucer or button brooch with extensive remains of gilding, displaying a stylised male face with puffy cheeks, large ears, long moustache, raised pellet eyes of different sizes, hair dressed in vertical ribs alternating plain and textured, some chevron and pellet patterning to the face; stub remains of catch fitting to reverse. 5.2 grams, 23 mmFine condition, slight scuffing to rim and one cheek.

Found UK.
Acquired in the 1990s.
From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK.

Cf. Avent, R. and Evison, V., Anglo-Saxon Button Brooches, in Archaeologia Or Miscellaneous Tracts Relating To Antiquity, London Society of Antiquaries, Volume CVII, London, 1982, pl.XV-XVI, for types.

The brooch does not fall neatly into Avent & Evison's typology, being somewhat larger than the standard forms of button brooch and with an unusually detailed face. Broadly, it resembles Class J with alternating plain and textured vertical strands in the hair but does not have the horizontal band across the brow nor the stylised beard associated with the type. The eccentric placement of the eyes suggests that the image may be the face of the god Woden (Odin) who famously sacrificed one eye in exchange for wisdom.

A rectangular copper-alloy mount with a slightly curved profile, the upper face with a yellow-enamelled interlaced knot against a red-brown enamelled field; Hiberno-Saxon workmanship. 6.65 grams, 29 mmFine condition, complete.

Found UK.
Acquired in the 1990s.
From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK.

Cf. Youngs, S. (ed.), The Work of Angels. Masterpieces of Celtic Metalwork, 6th-9th centuries AD, London, 1989, item 112, 131, 132, for type.

It is likely that this is a mount from a house-shrine or similar piece of ecclesiastical equipment with studs to the underside and a hole at each end to accept a rivet.

A gilt copper-alloy mount composed of a broad annular body with slightly domed profile, the body quartered with each cell displaying a chip-carved interlace motif configured A:B:A:B; rim, edges and central cell with raised rim; rivet and flat-section mounting bar to reverse. 9.98 grams, 28 mmFine condition, usage wear to raised surfaces.

Found UK.
Acquired in the 1990s.
From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK.

Cf. similar detailed interlace quadrants in Hammond, B., British Artefacts vol.2 - Middle Saxon & Viking, Witham, 2010, p.91.

The item was originally conceived as an appliqué with central cell probably containing a cabochon garnet or meerschaum disc. At some point later a bar was added across the reverse with the ends of the rivets interrupting the surface design.

A bronze bowl mount or escutcheon comprising a discoid panel with gently curved profile and zoomorphic hook; the panel with reserved La Tène comma-leaf decoration on a pounced field (intended to receive enamel fill); the hook with median gusset to the outer face, horse-head finial, bulbous La Tène ornament at the base. 23.7 grams, 48 mm

Found whilst searching with a metal detector in Pershore, Worcestershire, West Midlands, UK.

Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme Report no.WAW-BC2657.

Cf. MacGregor, A. & Bolick, E., A Summary Catalogue of the Anglo-Saxon Collections (Non-Ferrous Metals), Oxford, 1993, item 47.19, for type.

A gilt copper-alloy rectangular Style 1 mount displaying a sinuous chip-carved couchant beast in high-relief with good remains of gilding, thick external rim; one remaining rivet and one mounting lug to reverse. 6.72 grams, 45 mm

Found UK.
Acquired in the 1990s.
From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK.

Cf. Pollington, S., Kerr, L. & Hammond, B., Wayland's Work: Anglo-Saxon Art, Myth & Material Culture from the 4th to 7th century, Ely, 2010, pl.17.

A bronze lozenge-shaped mount with slightly convex profile displaying a quartered geometric motif of crosses composed of knotwork circles, all within a square frame and with a notched outer border; surviving traces of red enamelling within the cells; pierced rectangular mounting lug to reverse. 7.23 grams, 27 mm

Found UK.
Acquired in the 1990s.
From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK.

Cf. Hammond, B., British Artefacts vol.2 - Middle Saxon & Viking, Witham, 2010, item 1.6-w, for similar design.

The pierced attachment lug is typical of plates attached to horse-harness and similar leather items.

A gilt copper-alloy circular mount decorated with a chip-carved whorl composed of four stylised bird's wings radiating from a central knop; four mounting lugs to the reverse. 6.28 grams, 26 mm

Found UK.
Acquired in the 1990s.
From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK.

A pelta-shaped copper-alloy mount with substantial remains of enamelled decorative designs composed of a russet-coloured interlace motif against a light-coloured field, a lozenge to each external angle; Hiberno-Saxon workmanship. 25.2 grams, 71 mm

Found UK.
Acquired in the 1990s.
From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK.

Cf. Youngs, S. (ed.), The Work of Angels. Masterpieces of Celtic Metalwork, 6th-9th centuries AD, London, 1989, items 131, 132.

The shape of the piece indicates that it is a quadrant from a divided circular pattern, similar to the kinds of enamelled inset and applied panels which appear on Irish house-shrines.