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LOT 1674
Scandinavian Viking Iron Fire Steel with Bronze Handle with Horses and Riders
9TH-10TH CENTURY A.D.
2 3/4 in. (35 grams, 69 mm).
Openwork handle formed as stylised addorsed horses with riders, loop above conjoined heads.
ProvenanceFrom the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
See Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.144, item 1.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1674
Scandinavian Viking Iron Fire Steel with Bronze Handle with Horses and Riders
Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
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Viking Age Bronze Votive Miniature Horn
8th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £182
Tubular in form with thick ribbing to the rim and mouthpiece; mounted on a custom-made stand. 74 grams, 66 mm (128 grams total, 91 mm high including stand)
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The open end suggests that this is a blowing-horn rather than a drinking horn. -
Viking Age Bronze Penannular Brooch
10th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £247
With polyhedral finials, twisted shank with applied filigree thread; tapering hooked pin coiled around the shank. 52 grams, 59 mm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Late Anglo-Scandinavian Viking Bronze Casket Key
10th-13th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
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.
