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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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Viking Age Bronze Trefoil Strap Junction
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
Composed of a slightly domed openwork body, the central arms with simple incised geometric detailing and central boss, free-running attachment bars above. 15.5 grams, 89 mm
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s. -
Viking Bronze Boar Brooch
10th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £520
Decorative upper surface attached to a plain back-plate with spring-lugs and catchplate intact; the upper face divided by a heavy cast median rib with geometric ornament in the outer panels, arranged symmetrically along the rib with a similar transverse band; the corners of the wider end reinforced with vertical posts ending in heavy lobed ‘ears’; the upper-end panel with a continuation of the median rib, traces of ornamental interlace; the lower-end panel plain; hollow-cast. 98 grams, 57 mm
From a North Yorkshire, UK, private collection. Acquired from Adam Partridge Auctioneers, Macclesfield, UK. Property of Mr A.B., an American collector. -
Viking Period Bronze and Silver Artefact Collection
8th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £52
Comprising: silver wire finger ring; silver wire loop with lozenge pendant, impressed cross potent; wire earring with two seed beads. 4.46 grams total, 19-37 mm
Property of the vendor's grandfather, thence by family descent, circa 1985. From the private collection of a New York, USA gentleman.
