Anglo-Scandinavian Viking Bronze Stirrup Mount with Bear's Heads

Domed bronze stud with traces of gilding and enamel, silver stud at apex; embedded in a circular block of lead to form a trade weight or gaming piece; two silver discs (or ends of a silver loop) to the underside. 24.7 grams, 20 mm



Found Suffolk, 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-C85DE6.

Trade weights and gaming pieces in Anglo-Scandinavian culture were often formed by taking a small and finely-made pre-existing item and embedding it into a lead matrix. The effect of this practice has been to preserve smaller pieces which would otherwise not have survived.

Comprising: two elliptical bronze tortoise brooches, each domed with raised ornament of four Borre-style faces with pellet eyes to the centre of a panel of body parts and hatching with two more faces to the narrow ends, wide flange, catchplate, pin-hinge and pendant attachment bar to the reverse; two suspension links, each an omega-shaped loop with lateral coiled ends and ring above; three swags of graduated beads (restrung) - upper: pale blue glass oblate beads, crystal annular beads, melon beads; middle: deep blue and dark green glass and lapis lazuli polyhedral and annular beads; lower: oblate and polyhedral amber and glass beads. 310 grams total, 57 cm total long



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

The most characteristic items of Viking period women's jewellery are oval brooch pairs, called 'tortoise brooches' in the literature. As in this example, the brooches themselves were usually connected by swags of coloured beads or by chains supporting tools such as tweezers or a small knife, as well as amulets.

Substantial penannular type with looped finials. 124 grams, 70 mm



Ex private North American collection, California, USA, 1970s-1990s.