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

Tapering axehead pendant on a ring with coiled ends, triangular punched detailing. 3.75 grams, 44 mm



Acquired on the London art market in the late 1980s-1990s. From the family collection of an East London, UK, gentleman.

D-section bar with fan-shaped hatched flanges at the centre flanking the socket; six ribbed knops to the outer face, beast-head finials; one attachment pin to the underside. 54 grams, 15.5 cm



From a North Yorkshire, UK, private collection. Acquired from Adam Partridge Auctioneers, Macclesfield, UK. Property of Mr A.B., an American collector.

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.