Loading, please wait...

Use mousewheel to zoom in and out, click to enlarge

Details

LOT 0332

Scandinavian Viking Sacrificed Iron Sword

10TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.

3 1/2 - 26 in. (1.15 kg total, 9-66 cm).

Deliberately broken up on deposition, Petersen's Type L variant, comprising: D-shaped pommel with peened tang above and upper portion of tang forming the grip; lower section of tang with separate lower guard, scaphoid in plan and gently drooping in profile with convergent ends; upper portion of double-edged lentoid-section blade; lower section of parallel-sided blade with rounded tip. [3]

Provenance

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

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12726-234732.
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.

Literature

Cf. Peirce, I., Swords of the Viking Age, Woodbridge, 2002, p.80-1, for a similar sword in the BM.

CONDITION

VETTING:

TimeLine 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:

TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.

LOT 0332

Scandinavian Viking Sacrificed Iron Sword

Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,160

Print page

RELATED LOTS

  • Luristan Bronze Arrowhead Collection
    Luristan Bronze Arrowhead Collection
    14th-10th century B.C.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £182

    A group of large tanged arrowheads, mainly of triangular type with some barbed examples. 288 grams total, 6.4-16.9 cm



    Ex London art market, 1980-1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

    Although some of them are different in shape, these arrowheads are apparently related types of a polythetic group. Two basic deltoid forms are represented: one has a sharp, flat blade, the ends of which extend to form wings or barbs, and a prominent midrib extending into a long tang that often has a stop; the blade shape varies from deltoid to more triangular. The other form has no barbs, but it has a prominent midrib extending to the tang, and a narrow leaf-shaped blade.

    Lot Details

  • Luristan Socketted Bronze Axe Head
    Luristan Socketted Bronze Axe Head
    12th-8th century B.C.

    Estimate: £500 - 700 (‡+bp*)

    Opening Bid: £225

    Comprising a wide curving blade and long neck with a band of herringbone decoration at the base, tubular neck with claw-like extension to the rear and a decorative diagonal band to both sides. 308 grams, 10.6 cm



    Acquired on the Swiss art market, 1997. Private collection, Europe. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

    Lot Details

  • Oriental European Iron Armour Sections
    Oriental European Iron Armour Sections
    10th-14th century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £33

    Consisting of a square dorsal plate and a spherical shoulder protection, the dorsal plate with one of the fixing holes present. 790 grams total, 12.7-20 cm



    UK private collection, acquired in 1996. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

    Although this is a type of armour that currently has no parallels for its dorsal plate, the spherical shoulder protection finds some comparable items with fragments of armour from the Balkans and could correspond to the melon of Eastern Roman sources of the period.

    Lot Details

Stay up-to-date with the latest from TimeLine Auctions by joining our mailing list