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_900x900.jpg "Anglo-Saxon Gilt Bronze Mount with Wolf-Men")
_200x200.jpg "Anglo-Saxon Gilt Bronze Mount with Wolf-Men")
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LOT 1770
Anglo-Saxon Gilt Bronze Mount with Wolf-Men
6TH CENTURY A.D.
1 1/4 in. (9.08 grams, 32 mm).
The majority of a mount bearing dense and enigmatic imagery recalling half-remembered legends which were already ancient when it was made; the obverse packed with a tangled mass of bands of detailed ornament which resolves itself into human (or divine?) figures, each gripping the ankles of the other, their bodies inverted and contorted in the classic Style I chip-carved fashion; the centre with a round cell, into which a flat-cut glass cloison is set, polished to reflect the light and to shimmer with blood-red brilliance.
ProvenanceFound Wiltshire, UK.
Wiltshire gentleman, 2011.
TimeLine Originals, 2000s.
Property of an East Anglia gentleman.
Accompanied by a report by Anglo-Saxon and Viking specialist S. Pollington.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.10381-168115.
See MacGregor, A. and Bolick, E., A Summary Catalogue of the Anglo-Saxon Collections (Non-Ferrous Metals), Oxford, 1993, item 25.6, for type.
FootnotesAnglo-Saxon and Viking specialist Stephen Pollington writes: '...the scene presented may illustrate a legend or myth of which no record survives. That said, the execution of the piece is consistent with high-status Anglo-Saxon metalwork of the 6th century, and the quality of the gilding is remarkably high. The iconography is at present unique but entirely within the Anglo-Saxon tradition.'
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Anglo-Saxon Bronze Brooch and Fragment Group
Circa 6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £39
Comprising: small-long bow brooch with pierced headplate, ansate brooch, horse-head foot from a cruciform brooch, mask with silver band from a cruciform brooch. 36 grams total, 27-56 mm
Acquired on the European art market since the early 2000s. From the private Northern Ireland collection of R.M. -
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Anglo-Saxon Bronze Chip-Carved 'Salin's Style 1' Mount
6th century A.D.Estimate: £700 - 900 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £350
Rectangular in plan with raised border and central panel with slot; chip-carved Style I Tiermensch design; four studs and textile remains to reverse; mounted on a custom-made stand. 20.7 grams, 30 mm (55 grams total, 93 mm high including stand)
From the private collection of the late David Miller, a distinguished Hertfordshire collector and numismatist, active during the 1990s. with ArtAncient Ltd, 2013. Private collection, London. -
Anglo-Saxon Gilt Bird-Headed Finial
6th-7th century A.D.Estimate: £4,000 - 6,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £2,000
A zoomorphic mount which can be interpreted to include several animals, including a bird, a boar, a caterpillar, and a rat; ellipsoid in section with hollow rear and slot, holes for attachment curved end; the rear of the body formed with transverse twisted ribs above two panels of fine parallel lines parted at the median with D-shaped lugs projecting above; below, beneath the lateral slot, horizontal ribs and balusters with scooped edge and two holes for attachment; forward end forming a curved beak with lateral recesses. socket eyes above, one with glass fill; rear damaged; mounted on a custom-made stand. 26.12 grams, 38 mm (43.6 grams total, 71 mm including stand)
with ArtAncient Ltd. 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.12438-226862.
The item is enigmatic and intriguing. In many respects it resembles a drinking horn finial, particularly the class of such items found in Irish and Hiberno-Saxon contexts (Youngs, items 53, 54). However, the profile of the hollow rear is elliptical rather than than circular, and the lateral slots are clearly intended to accept some form of projection. The most likely interpretation is that the piece was custom-made to fit a drinking horn with carved ornament, part of which would fit into the slots. The form of the piece is superficially that of an eagle- or raven-head with sturdy raptor's beak. However, behind the head are placed two small projecting ears and the sides bear a long mane, both reminiscent of a horse. It seems likely that the animal is a hybrid of a mammal and bird of prey: in this case, it must be a gryphon inspired by classical forms.
