With beast facing right, head turned back left; tail curled above to meet the head; within an annulet border with suspension loop above. 5.59 grams, 28 mm high

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

Displaying facetted terminals displaying punched circlets, pelletted triangles and faux ropework to the body and faux ropework to the articulate pin head. 21.9 grams, 39 mm wide

From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.

Cf. Roesdahl, E., Wilson D.M., From Viking to Crusader: The Scandinavians and Europe 800 to 1200 (22nd Council of Europe Exhibition), Copenhagen, 1992, p.81, fig.8, for a similar specimen.

Penannular brooches with facetted terminals were part of the famous Kostivere hoard, found in Estonia, deposited in around 1220-1230 during the wars of Estonians against the Germans and Danes. The annular brooches with animal ornaments in Urnes style were considered by the archaeologists definitely Scandinavian, more specifically from Gotland.

With complex beast left, facing back to the right, gripping a tendril, within a double rope border with filigree annulets in the field; suspension loop to the apex, decorated with filigree pellets within annulets. 7.57 grams, 49 mm high

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

See Korshyn, V.E., Yazicheskiye Priveski Drevniye Rysi X-XIV, Vekov, Moscow, 2013, for comparable objects.

Zoomorphic, in the form of a bird with wing and feather detailing highlighted in filigree, the suspension tube forming the bird's head, curved beak below, beaded filigree collars and coiled wire to each arm of the suspension loop. 5.46 grams, 43 mm

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

Cf. Magnus, B., Men, Gods and Masks in Nordic Iron Age Art, Volume 1, Köln, 2003, item 227, for similar type.

Decorated with filigree wire borders and a granulated field, truncated conical bosses also adorned with granules, granules forming lozenges to the tubular suspension loop. 7.22 grams, 45 mm

From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.

With fusiform hexagonal-section crystal bead modified for use as a pendant with the addition of a bronze collar bearing stamped 'bowtie' motifs attached to two lateral straps converging at the end to form a knotted and looped bail; finial formed as a beast-head with raised snout and piriform eyes, shallow flange ears, slanted muzzle; thick bronze wire suspension loop with ends twisted around the shank. 42.01 grams, 83 mm high

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

Cf. similar animal-head profile on the weathervane from Källunge church, Gotland in Franceschi, G., Jorn, A. & Magnus, B., Fuglen, Dyret og Mennesket i Nordisk Jernalderkunst, vol.2, Borgen, 2005, pl.181.

Comprising two discoid pendants displaying Odin gripping two ravens; one with suspension loop. 3.51 grams total, 21 mm each

From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.

Composed of an elliptical domed body decorated with a transverse band of ribbed decoration featuring four facing masks with pellet eyes; the outer fields with zoomorphic tendril designs edged by a ropework border; geometric motif to the flange; transverse bar and remains of some fitting elements to reverse. 71 grams, 93 mm

From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.

Cf. MacGregor, A. et al., A Summary Catalogue of the Continental Archaeological Collections, Oxford, 1997, item 4, for oval brooches; cf. Ewing, T., Viking Clothing, Strood, 2007, fig.36; cf. Franceschi, G., Asger, J. & Magnus, B., Mennesker, Guder og Masker i Nordisk Jernalderkunst, Bind 1, Silkeborg, 2005, figs.130-1.

Comprising: two examples of a long and narrow tongue-shaped type (Paulsen's Gruppe V 2A, Untergruppe C) with scooped upper edge and palmette motif to the centre, a vertical band of reserved stylised ring-chain decoration on a pounced field, long lateral straps and a knop finial (one with an upper arm absent); a subtriangular type (Paulsen's Gruppe I 2, Untergruppe C) with central openwork panel displaying a bird in flight with the fan-shaped tail marked with radiating lines, trilinear bands to the outer sides, upper edges angled and with a lozengiform 'knot' at the apex; a long and rounded tongue-shaped type (Paulsen's Gruppe I 1) with an openwork centre and Ringerike Style bird formed with looped bands, pellets to the pinions, a triangular in plan head joined to the inner faces of the ropework border forming the upper edge of the chape, with a wolf's head at the apex and stepped knop finial (one face damaged); a single plate from a chape of the same type (Gruppe I 1) with a rounded lower edge and the apex absent. 158 grams total, 59-75 mm

From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.

Cf. Paulsen, P., Schwertortbänder der Wikingerzeit, Stuttgart, 1953, items 6, 23, 167, 178.

The slender, tongue-shaped elongated form (Gruppe V2A, Untergruppe C) is regarded by Paulsen (p.118) as Latvian in origin ("Lettland") and 11th century in date. The broader openwork form (Gruppe I 2, Untergruppe C) is associated with the Baltic island of Gotland, which was a major entrepot in the trade network connecting Sweden with the eastern Baltic and the riverine passage south to the Mediterranean; a 10th century date is preferred for this type. The long openwork form (Gruppe I 1) is Scandinavian in origin and appears first in the 10th century; Paulsen's figure 6 from Oland, Sweden, is a close match to the complete example included here.

The substantial heater-shaped plaque with spectacular openwork Urnes style design, the standing beast with entwined tendrils, pronounced head at the apex, narrow ledge to the reverse and rivet holes to each corner with two rivets remaining. 31 grams, 64 mm

Found Norfolk, UK.

Cf. Williams, D., Late Saxon Stirrup-Strap Mounts, York, 1997, item 55, for the type: Class A, Type 10b.

Of Williams's Class A Type 10b, a heater-shaped plaque with pierced lug at the apex, two piercings below, low-relief openwork Urnes style design with standing beast and entwined tendrils, narrow ledge to the reverse. 28.3 grams, 53 mm

Found Berkshire, UK.

Cf. Williams, D., Late Saxon Stirrup-Strap Mounts, York, 1997, item 55, for type.

The mount has the decorative scheme of Williams's Class A Type 10b but its proportions are closer to his Class A Type 11 with a narrow and elongated upper knop.

Of Williams's Group 1 type 11C with raised frame, trefoil below the loop, high-relief wolf image, two holes to lower edge and ledge to the reverse. 26.2 grams, 48 mm

Acquired on the UK art market in the 1990s.
Property of a Stowmarket, UK, gentleman.

Cf. Williams, D., Late Saxon Stirrup-Strap Mounts, York, 1997, items 275, 278.