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LOT 1689
Anglo-Scandinavian Viking Bronze Beast Facing Back Brooch
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
1 1/8 in. (6.71 grams, 29 mm).
Disc brooch with low-relief regardant beast motif within a segmented border; loop to the reverse.
ProvenanceFound Costessey, Norfolk, UK.
Recorded with the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) with report no.NMS-AAD19D.
Cf. West, S., A Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Finds From Suffolk, East Anglian Archaeology 84, Ipswich, 1998, plate 96(3).
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1689
Anglo-Scandinavian Viking Bronze Beast Facing Back Brooch
Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
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Anglo-Scandinavian Viking Bronze Stirrup Apex Mount
11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
With openwork beast decoration, single iron rivet to the top. 23.6 grams, 48 mm
Found in Rocklands, Norfolk, UK. From an old private collection of Norfolk, UK, gentleman, formed since 1998. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.NMS-7AD1D2. -
Large Viking Age Bronze Tortoise Brooch Pair
9th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £910
Comprising: two elliptical tortoise brooches, each a domed openwork shell with raised ornament of five bell-shaped studs and four Borre Style beasts; frieze of profile beasts to the lower edge and flange rim; catchplate, pin-hinge and pendant attachment bar to the reverse with mineralised remains of textile backing; repaired. 218 grams total, 10.8-11.5 cm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. -
Viking Age Gold 'Elf Shot' Pendant
9th-11th century A.D. or earlierSold for (Inc. bp): £650
Sheet gold sleeve and wire dangle, crystal lobed bead mounted in the socket. 0.83 grams, 23 mm
Ex property of a late Japanese collector, 1970-2000s.
This amulet was believed to offer protection against 'Elfshot'. The attack of elves was believed responsible for mysterious suffering in men and livestock: sudden shooting pains localised to a particular area of the body, such as in rheumatism, arthritis or muscle stitches or cramps. Elves were thought to shoot darts or arrows where such pains had no obvious external cause. Belief in elfshot persisted into the 20th century in rural areas, and as proof country folk would sometimes find small arrowheads (the remains of Neolithic or Mesolithic flints, or naturally-occurring spear-shaped stones) that were believed to be the magical weapons that caused the afflictions. Belief in elfshot began in the Pagan Germanic period.
