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LOT 0311
Large Viking Period Bear's Tooth Pendant
9TH-12TH CENTURY A.D.
3 5/8 in. (42.5 grams, 94 mm).
A large bear's tooth set into a copper-alloy pendant setting, decorated with corded wire and a circumferential frieze of filigree loops, sturdy suspension loop to the cap.
ProvenanceAcquired 1971-1972.
From the collection of the vendor's father.
London, UK, collector.
with TimeLine Auctions, Essex, 6 September 2022, no.394.
Private collection, London, UK.
Cf. Sedov, B.B., Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, pl.LVIII, item 10.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Viking Age Bronze Facing Mask Strap Fitting
11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Comprising a plaque with two lateral arms, pierced for attachment, and two loops below secured with rivets; the arms with notched and lobed edges, the plaque with central motif of a bearded face with lobes to the temples, pellet eyes, modelled in the half-round. 9.19 grams, 36 mm
Acquired on the German art market before 2000. From an old Munich collection. -
Viking Age Bronze Sword Scabbard Chape Collection
10th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £780
Comprising: a small and narrow type (Paulsen's Gruppe I 2, Untergruppe d) with an openwork panel to each face filled by a cross-shaped motif with curved cross-bar, and a dentilled upper edge to the mouth; a tongue-shaped type (Paulsen's Gruppe I 1) with an openwork centre and Ringerike style bird formed with looped bands, pellets to the pinions, a triangular in plan head joined to the inner faces of the ropework border forming the upper edge of the chape, with a wolf's head at the apex and stepped knop finial (apex and lower end of the chape damaged); two of the same type (Gruppe I 1) with a pair of scrolls in the central void and a 'knot' to the apex', one with ropework detailing and a wolf's head; a broad D-shaped plaque with a plain reverse plate riveted in place, guilloche band to the outer edge and interlaced vines to the centre. 118 grams total, 46-75 mm
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.
The chape with the dentilled upper edge bears a cross motif on which only the curvature of the cross-piece indicates its origin in the raven/eagle figure found more commonly on this type; as its ornament has developed a long way from its original form, it should be dated to the 11 or 12th century. The D-shaped plaque with the plain reverse is not in Paulsen's typology but appears to be derived from the smaller types in his Gruppe VII. -
Viking Age Bronze Tortoise Brooch with Ravens
9th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £702
With domed elliptical body and narrow flange, high-relief palmette ornament and omega-shaped panels and opposed ravens with curved beaks. 62.6 grams, 80 mm
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.
The silvery appearance of the brooch is probably due to a high proportion of tin in the bronze alloy.