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LOT 0363
Viking Age Bronze Borre Style Tortoise Brooch Set
10TH-12TH CENTURY A.D.
22 1/2 in. (310 grams total, 57 cm total long).
Comprising: two elliptical bronze tortoise brooches, each domed with raised ornament of four Borre-style faces with pellet eyes to the centre of a panel of body parts and hatching with two more faces to the narrow ends, wide flange, catchplate, pin-hinge and pendant attachment bar to the reverse; two suspension links, each an omega-shaped loop with lateral coiled ends and ring above; three swags of graduated beads (restrung) - upper: pale blue glass oblate beads, crystal annular beads, melon beads; middle: deep blue and dark green glass and lapis lazuli polyhedral and annular beads; lower: oblate and polyhedral amber and glass beads.
ProvenanceFrom the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.
LiteratureFor similar brooches see Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pls.58ff. and in particular 62-63, 67; see also Graham-Campbell, J. & Kidd, D., The Vikings, London, 1980, figs.52-53, for similar brooches from Norway.
FootnotesThe most characteristic items of Viking period women's jewellery are oval brooch pairs, called 'tortoise brooches' in the literature. As in this example, the brooches themselves were usually connected by swags of coloured beads or by chains supporting tools such as tweezers or a small knife, as well as amulets.
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'The Holt' Anglo-Scandinavian Viking Bronze Borre Brooch
11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £910
With low-relief Borre style looped tendrils motif, lug and catch to the reverse. 10.4 grams, 29 mm
Found near Holt, Norfolk, UK. From an old private collection of Norfolk, UK, gentleman, formed since 1998. -
Viking Age Silver Torc Section with Axehead Pendant
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
Curved flat-section fragment with hatched edges and incised bilinear running zigzag motif, pierced to accept a suspension ring with miniature axehead dangle bearing a ring-and-dot motif and hatched borders. 6.27 grams, 65 mm
From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent. -
Viking Age Finno-Ugrian Socketted Axe Head
10th-13th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
A Finno-Ugrian or Baltic hand-forged iron axehead with triangular-section narrow blade widening to a broad bevelled edge with square chin and spur to the rear, socket with flanges to the rear. 694 grams, 14.2 cm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.
During the mid 13th century, the axes were favourited by Baltic people. For instance, the Curonian army included lightly armed soldiers who fought with spears, shields, fighting knives and axes. A heavily armed soldier could also carry a sword, a helmet, a shield and a wide bladed axe.
