A group of three Viking and pre-Viking boar's head brooches of different types comprising: a proto-animal-head brooch with swept profile, domed central panel and heater-shaped lateral flanges, catch to the foot; a proto-animal-head brooch decorated with domed central panel, two voids close to the upper edge, lateral conical domes to the corners, triangular snout with catch to the underside, zones of incised ornament; shallow dots and plain ears; a classic boar's head with lanceolate panels to the upper corners, rows of impressed dots, pierced at the top and hollow to accept a separate backplate with pin-lugs and catch. 42.8 grams total, 35-49 mmFine condition, pins absent.

UK gallery, acquired in the 2000s.
Property of an English gentleman.

Cf. Hammond B., British Artefacts Volume 2 - Middle Saxon and Viking, Witham, 2010, p.42, item 1.1.3-f, for a similar brooch to the boar's head with pricked detailing; also cf. MacGregor, A. et al., A Summary Catalogue of the Continental Archaeological Collections, Oxford, 1997, item 3.29, for type; cf. MacGregor, A. et al., A Summary Catalogue of the Continental Archaeological Collections, Oxford, 1997, items 3.1, 3.26, 3.5.

The brooch's origin in the late Roman crossbow brooch can be seen in the development of the final type.

A silver pendant composed of a tapering lozenge-section hoop with overlapping arms and coiled terminals, suspending an axehead pendant. 2.78 grams, 37 mm

Acquired in the 1990s.
UK private collection.
Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher.

A silver dress- or hair-pin comprising a tapering round-section stem and conical finial; stem tip absent. 6.3 grams, 12.5 cm

Acquired in the late 1990s-2000.
Property of an East London gentleman.

Cf. Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.169.

A silver miniature axehead with integral suspension loop. 2.27 grams, 21 mm

Acquired in the late 1990s-2000.
Property of an East London gentleman.

Cf. Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.107.

A Moravian sub-triangular copper-alloy patrix die displaying a stylised standing figure to the upper face, in orans pose, ring-and-dot and other symbols in the field. 41.5 grams, 43 mm

Acquired before 2000.
From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.

Cf. Dekan, J., Moravia Magna, The Great Moravian Empire, its Art and Times, fig.103, 105, 114, for similar images of orantes.

The Great Moravian Empire, Christianised by East Frankish missionaries and later experienced significant cultural development under King Rastislav, with the arrival of the mission of Saints Cyril and Methodius in 863 A.D., developed its own artistic style under the influence of Carolingian Empire and Eastern Roman Empire. The images of praying saints, similar to our figure, are evident on belt plate decorations, where the image of the suppliant with open hands and long talaris tunica is often repeated. If the two stylised figures are interpreted as lions, the patrix die could possibly represent the Biblical story of Daniel in the lion’s cave.

A silver pendant with integral loop, double-lozenge (twibill) in shape with horizontal gusset. 4.16 grams, 30 mm

Acquired in the late 1990s-2000.
Property of an East London gentleman.

A silver pendant comprising a free-running sub-triangular axehead pendant with flanges to the socket, one face with border of tremolier ornament; slender ring with terminals coiled around the shank. 1.38 grams, 38 mm

Acquired in the late 1990s-2000.
Property of an East London gentleman.

Cf. Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.105(1).

A bifacial silver hammer pendant with notched detailing to the handle and a horizontal trio of annulets to the blade; free-running silver ring with overlapping coiled arms. 2.23 grams, 33 mm

Acquired in the late 1990s-2000.
Property of an East London gentleman.

Cf. Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.104(6).

A flat-section copper-alloy bracelet, the penannular body decorated with repoussé pellets to upper nad lower edges, medial band of pellets enclosed by incised circlets. 19 grams, 58 mm

Early 1990s London collection.
Acquired on the UK art market.
From a private collection, Lancashire, UK.

A silver hammer pendant suspended on a free-running silver ring with overlapping and coiled arms, punch-decorated to one face with three horizontal triangles containing pellets. 2.63 grams, 33 mm

Acquired in the late 1990s-2000.
Property of an East London gentleman.

Cf. Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.104(6).

A penannular bronze brooch with a tapering body and upturned terminals each with a polygonal knop with nine faces, with pricked dot and annulet decoration; the apex of the hoop with a tripartite collar, flanked by symmetrical decorative motifs comprising concentric triangles composed of pricked dots and with annulet fill and annulets to the apexes, framed by lozenges composed of four annulets; free-running pin composed of a tapering tongue with headplate coiled around the brooch, the head decorated with raised bands and chevrons. 19.2 grams, 46 mm

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

Cf. Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.52.

A silver axehead pendant and suspension loop with ends coiled about the shank. 1.68 grams, 31 mm

Acquired in the 1990s.
UK private collection.
Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher.

Cf. Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.107.