Anglo-Saxon Bronze Strap End with Beast Loop Finial

Single-edge knife blade with curved forward edge to the point, short tang, straight cutting edge. 23 grams, 13.1 cm



Acquired in the early 2000s. From an East Anglian private collection. From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman.

This kind of knife was called handseax in Old English, a small domestic knife also useful for cooking and general craftwork.

Rectangular-section body with separate plate with two pins soldered to the underside, beast-head terminal with triangular ears placed along the flat sides, ridged brow, and trumpet-shaped muzzle. 6.81 grams, 55 mm



Acquired on the UK art market in the 1970s-1990s. Property of a Nottinghamshire, UK, gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

With rectangular headplate, shallow bow, foot absent; pin-lugs and catch to the reverse; the headplate with lozengiform panels to the upper corners and broad frame with ring-and-triangle stamped ornament; inner raised frame with opposed-triangle stamping, guilloche border with a raised square at each corner bearing punched pellet; high-relief Salin's Style I beast to the centre above the end of a vertical bar; broad, almost flat bow with lateral ribs and vertical bar, pierced by a stud to accept an applied disc (absent); lappets of Salin's Style I profile horse-heads flanking the junction of the bow with the footplate. 68.7 grams, 82 mm



Found Weston Colville, Cambridgeshire, UK. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.