With folded suspension loop, cross-potent design with scooped edges to the arm, punched ring-and-dot motifs and punched points. 8.56 grams, 43 mm

Acquired on the London art market in the late 1980s-1990s.
From the family collection of an East London, UK, gentleman.

Discoid with integral loop, stylised bird on a hatched field. 3.72 grams, 24 mm

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

Openwork bronze bifacial handle formed as a central facing male bust flanked by two oppose birds of prey with beaks placed beside his head; pierced lug between; below, row of discs above a transverse bar with long socket to the underside. 27.3 grams, 57 mm

From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12435-225923.

Cf. Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.144.

The image of Óðinn (Odin) with his ravens Huginn and Muninn appears widely in the Viking world, and is mentioned in the Icelandic poem collection Poetic Edda and elsewhere. The two birds fly around the world collecting news and then report it to the god in the evening. He says that he fears the ravens may not return from their flight: since their names mean 'thought' and 'memory', the meaning of the verse is that the god is anxious about the loss of these faculties.

Formed in two sections with a decorative upper element attached to a plain back-plate with pin, pin-lugs and catchplate intact; hollow upper section divided by a heavy median rib with figural and zoomorphic ornament in the outer panels, coiled and linear bands to the lower edges and rear panel; lobed ears to the corners of the wider end. 42.8 grams, 51 mm

UK collection, previously acquired in the 1980s.
Property of a Canadian collector living in Ontario; acquired 2018.

Cf. Franceschi, G., Asger, J. & Magnus, B., Mennesker, Guder og Masker i Nordisk Jernalderkunst, Bind 1, Silkeborg, 2005, figs.130-1.

With four raised arms and central knop to the upper face, all with punched ring-and-dot detailing; the outer sidewall with four panels of knotwork, dividing vertical stems with ring-and-dot motif, each with a D-shaped protrusion; the upper face with dense zoomorphic ornament; pin and separate catchplate to the underside with central hole, five studs retaining it to the upper. 71.6 grams total, 45 mmFine condition, pin intact, backplate slightly cracked.

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

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11406-192532.

Cf. MacGregor, A. et al., A Summary Catalogue of the Continental Archaeological Collections, Oxford, 1997, item 1.9; and cf. Hammond, A.B., Benet's Artefacts of England & the United Kingdom, Fourth Edition, 2021, p.497, VO7-42257, for a similar item valued at £8,000-£10,000.

The type is known as a 'drum' brooch or 'box' brooch. They were apparently manufactured on the island of Gotland and all known examples probably have their origin there. Over time, the refinement of the earlier types (such as the present example) is superseded by cruder decoration consisting of dimples or simple dots.

Teardrop-shaped and slightly domed with loop at the apex (absent) and two radiating lugs at the lower corners; low-relief design of a dense interlaced panel with beast-head at the apex; ledge to reverse with ferrous remains of stud. 31.8 grams, 53 mm

Found Suffolk, UK.
From an old private collection of Norfolk, UK, gentleman, formed since 1998.

Cf. Williams, D., Late Saxon Stirrup-Strap Mounts, York, 1997, item 180, for type.

Formed as two round-section rods twisted around each other and curved into a bracelet, the narrow ends coiled about the shank. 59.83 grams, 67 mm

Acquired in London, 1985.
Private collection, London.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12436-226869.

Cf. a similar bracelet in silver from Orupgård, Denmark, published in Franceschi, G., Asget, J. & Magnus, B. Fuglen, Dyret og Mennesket in Nordisk Jernalderkunst, vol.2 item 1; also Sedov, B.B., Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, pl.XLV (9), for type.

A group of flat-section Mordvinian type brooches, decorated to the trapezoidal plates with raised pellets, reserved scroll tendrils, hatching and other ornament. 91 grams total, 52-57 mm

Acquired on the European art market since the early 2000s.
From the private Northern Ireland collection of R.M.

See Sedov, B.B., Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, pl.XLIV, item 11.

This type of brooch belongs to the typologies of the omega brooches. It was probably used by Ugro-Finnic people to fasten the shirt at the neck or to attach other lighter garments. These brooches evolved to become very elaborate, with dangling springs from the edges, and were often worn in pairs, particularly on female garments. In this late Viking period their coins demonstrated Russian and Eastern Roman influences in their art and jewellery.

Comprising an openwork woven chain with round-section tubular finials, the finials with applied wire and pellet decoration, a hooked clasp with a domed mount to the centre; lunate pendant with a wide ribbed loop and pellet decoration suspended from the chain. 77 grams, 46.5 cm

Acquired in 1997.
Private collection, Europe.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12437-226708.

Cf. Makarov, N.A. ed., Rus v IX-X Vekach: Archeologicheskaya Panorama, Moscow, 2012, p.332, items 2-3; Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.98(13) for similar examples.

Comprising a single coiled rod with ribbed detailing, overlapping arms and loop terminals, one with securing button. 264 grams, 23.2 cm

Acquired on the European art market since the early 2000s.
From the private Northern Ireland collection of R.M.

See Sedov, B.B., Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, for similar items.

With shallow bowl and bulb to the neck, square-section handle with twisted shank, collar and knop finial; reverse of bowl with lattice motif; mounted on a custom-made stand. 15.4 grams, 13.5 cm (39 grams total, 14.7 cm including stand)

Acquired on the London art market, 1995.
Private collection, London.

Cf. Fodor, I., The Ancient Hungarians, Budapest, 1996, p. 369.

The lattice motif has parallels in the art of the Vars and other cultures of the Hungarian plain. Scandinavian contact with that part of Europe was maintained by trade and settlement along the Volga and other waterways. The city of Kyiv was ruled by Scandinavian Rus for some centuries.

Slender in form and gently curved, formed as the head and neck of a crane with narrow beak and inset glass eyes; baluster to the rear and multilinear curved bands. 11 grams, 43 mm

Found near Thetford, Norfolk, UK, circa 2018.
Property of a private collector, West London, UK.

Cf. Youngs, S. (ed.), The Work of Angels. Masterpieces of Celtic Metalwork, 6th-9th centuries AD, London, 1989, items 53, 54, for type.