-
Anglo-Saxon Gilt Bronze Saucer Brooch Pair
5th-6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,820
Matched pair, each with an upturned rim; concentric bands of pellets and segmented circles; pin-lug and catch to the reverse. 50 grams total, 41-42 mm
Found near Evesham, Worcestershire, UK, in 1992. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12778-239464. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Saucer brooches are a female Saxon fashion, contemporary with the Anglian penannular and cruciform types, normally worn at the shoulders to secure a tubular dress. -
Viking Age Silver Decorated Bracelet
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,170
Penannular in form with thick rectangular panel and the ends thinned to wire and wound about the shank; dense pattern of punched lozenges and pellets. 51 grams, 67 mm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Viking Age Silver Filigree Pendant
9th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £780
Discoid with integral suspension loop, central dome, filigree scrolled knotwork and pellets. 5.1 grams, 34 mm high
Very fine condition.
Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Viking Age Silver Filigree Pendant
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,105
Of lozengiform shape decorated with a knotwork motif in filigree, suspension loop with filigree ornament, faux ropework border around the whole. 3.19 grams, 35 mm high
Very fine condition.
Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Scandinavian Pre-Viking Silver Wrist Clasp Pair
5th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £442
A matched pair of spiral-coiled wrist-clasps of Hines's Class A, each pair with one broad rounded loop to the centre and one returned hooked loop. 22.99 grams total, 36-38 mm
Property of a gentleman; acquired in the 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The spiral-coil type of wrist clasp is the earliest form of an artefact type which became a very popular costume element in especially Norway and the English East Midlands in the early Anglo-Saxon Period. Grave-finds indicate that they were used to secure the cuffs of robes worn by high-status women. -
Merovingian Silver-Gilt Brooch Pair
Circa 6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,300
Matched pair, each comprising a rectangular headplate with raised rim and low-relief scroll detailing; shallow bow with thick median rib and lateral ribbing; openwork bird-head lappets with punched ring detailing; lozengiform footplate with low-relief looped tendril motif, inset cabochon garnets; beast-head finial; pin-lug and catch to reverse. 35 grams total, 74 mm each
Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Scandinavian Pre-Viking Gold Votive Plaque of Guldgubbe with Goddess Facing
Circa 6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,420
Sheet-gold plaque with folded edges, repoussé image of a facing figure in ankle-length robe, hands resting on the hips. 1.45 grams, 26 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.12755-234703. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Guldgubbe was originally a Swedish word that has entered in the Scandinavian language and denote tiny human or divine figures either cut from sheet gold or formed over a patrix. Figures of women are extremely rare in metal art before the 7th century A.D. It is only with Guldgubbe that women make their appearance. They are usually viewed both in profile or (like here) frontally. -
Pre-Viking Gold Aroma Bucket Pendant
4th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £780
Miniature drum-shaped vessel with strap handle, beaded wire bands to the bottom and sidewall, polished red stone insert to the base. 1.28 grams, 19 mm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Pendants in the form of miniature buckets have been found in a number of pagan Anglo-Saxon and Viking contexts and are generally made of bronze or iron, with gold examples being rare; three gold examples were found with the hoard from Hoen, Norway. Bronze bucket amulets have been found at Driffield in Yorkshire, and Vimose bog in Denmark, among other places. In form they represent wooden buckets bound with bronze or iron bands which have been found in Anglo-Saxon and Viking graves and are believed to have held mead or ale and were used to replenish the cups from which warriors drank. As amulets they probably represent the ecstatic power of alcoholic drink and the role of women as the dispensers of these precious beverages. -
Saxon Gold Teardrop Pendant with Cabochon Garnet
Late 5th-early 6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,170
With inset polished cabochon garnet, suspension loop above. 0.66 grams, 16 mm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Viking Age Bronze Pendant with Foot Dangles
9th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
Openwork rectangular plaque with stylised curved finials, pair of attachment loops to the reverse; seven suspension loops to the underside, each with a duck foot dangle; Finno-Ugric type. 49.2 grams, 98 mm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Viking Age Bronze Annular Brooch
8th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £416
With ropework detailing to the hoop, hooks and granule clusters above, row of loops to lower edge, each with an articulated chain and duck-foot finial; Finno-Ugric type. 87 grams, 17.5 cm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Viking Age Bronze Pendant with Bell Dangles
8th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £494
Horizontal braided band with horse-head finial, suspension loop to the top; band of loops to lower edge, each with a bell dangle; Finno-Ugric type. 18.5 grams, 54 mm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.