Pre-Viking Bronze Twisted Torc

Displaying a central boss with cruciform design, the arms with openwork beast heads. 37 grams, 84 mm



From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.

Adorned with repoussé chevrons and applied granules; replaced loop. 1.17 grams, 15 mm



From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.

Pendants in the form of miniature buckets have been found in a number of pagan Anglo-Saxon and Viking contexts and are generally made of bronze or iron, with gold examples being rare; three gold examples were found with the hoard from Hoen, Norway. Bronze bucket amulets have been found at Driffield in Yorkshire, and Vimose bog in Denmark, among other places. In form they represent wooden buckets bound with bronze or iron bands which have been found in Anglo-Saxon and Viking graves and are believed to have held mead or ale and were used to replenish the cups from which warriors drank. As amulets they probably represent the ecstatic power of alcoholic drink and the role of women as the dispensers of these precious beverages.

Comprising an openwork addorsed bird design and sub-rectangular plaque with interlace motifs and beast head in relief. 13.2 grams total, 27-37 mm



From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.