Heavy Viking Twisted Silver Bracelet

Suspension loop with four spherical glass beads and a miniature hammer with a braided loop. 6.24 grams, 43.83 mm overall, 14.52 x 9.78 mm internal diameter (approximate size British F, USA 2 3/4, Europe 3.67, Japan 3)



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

Composed of an openwork discoid body with integral T-shaped tubular loop; raised gusseted rim enclosing a pair of S-shaped beasts with billetted bodies and comma-shaped tails, enmeshed gripping paws clutching the rim and their own bodies. 12.4 grams, 43 mm



Acquired on the European art market in the 1990s. Ex property of a German gentleman.

Despite the long period of overlap of Borre and Jellinge art styles, there are only a few examples of their fusion. The principal and most popular motif of the Borre style displays an animal with gripping paws, usually enmeshed in a circular frame, while a typical Jellinge style beast is more slender with a long, S-shaped body and ribbon decoration. The most famous example of a pendant featuring a fusion of these styles was found in a hoard from Vårby (Sweden), formed as a circle with a pair of Jellinge-style beasts with ribbon-shaped bodies in profile and heads with open jaws and extended tongues; however, each is provided with gripping paws and an enmeshed body, which are typical features of the Borre style. A few examples of these pendants were also found near the important trading settlement of Gnezdovo, near Smolensk, Russia.

Discoid with reserved central cross between four lentoid panels of reserved knotwork; end of broken shaft; later modified with holes to accept four domed rivets at the apices of the cross (three in situ) and one re-drilled; central mounting hole. 8 grams, 31 mm



Found Norfolk, UK.