Anglo-Scandinavian Viking Stirrup Terminal with Beast

For a slide lock, the shaft with an open circular projection to one end and a larger openwork rectangular projection to the other end terminating with a T-shaped extension. 7.67 grams, 54 mm



Acquired on the UK art market circa 2005. From an old North Country, UK, collection. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

There is much discussion among the scholars on such slide keys, known popularly as 'Viking' keys. According to Kevin Leahy '...they do look something like the keys that come from Viking graves and from Viking sites but I have never seen an example that had the 'T' shaped extension for the end of the bit and I can't actually see how this would have functioned in a slide lock.' An iron example was found at Coppergate in York, in a 12th to 13th century context.

Comprising a stylised bird in plan with high-relief detailing, pellet eyes, knotwork to the shoulders and gilt bands below, bearded mask to the lower back and knotwork disc above, niello detailing, hollow to the underside, two wire loops to the lateral flanges. 32.3 grams, 70 mm



Acquired from Marcus Hollersberger, Solophurn, Switzerland, in 1980. From the collection of a London antiquarian, formed since the 1980s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12736-234209. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

With openwork Urnes Style design of coiled serpent with head at the lower edge, two upper coils forming the attachment loops. 2.92 grams, 22 mm



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

The style of the piece is very reminiscent of a bronze Urnes Style brooch in the Nationalmuseet, Copenhagen published in Wilson, D.M. and Klindt-Jensen, O. Viking Art, London, 1968, pl.LXXIII (f). The swept curves of the tendrils which enmesh the serpent's body are a noted feature of the style, which is found also in the great Norwegian stave churches and elsewhere.