Viking Age Bronze Bracelet with Triangular Terminals

With a broad curved blade, narrow neck and hammer extension to the rear; round socket. 324 grams, 19.5 cm



From the collection of a Californian, USA, gentleman, dating back to the late 1960s.

The more common weapons of Finno-Ugrian people were axes commonly found from all Finnic areas, as well as spears. Among Baltic-Finnic people, especially in Finland and Karelia, knives called 'puukko' were common, as well as axes, spears, flat bows and long bows, while swords were usually imported from Germanic areas, Sweden or from elsewhere Scandinavia, some having often typically Scandinavian animal ornaments, although there are some Finnish made finds too.

Gold cup with hoop and suspension loop, with glass insert. 1.37 grams, 17 mm



Ex property of a late Japanese collector, 1970-2000s.

This amulet was believed to offer protection against 'Elfshot'. The attack of elves was believed responsible for mysterious suffering in men and livestock: sudden shooting pains localised to a particular area of the body, such as in rheumatism, arthritis or muscle stitches or cramps. Elves were thought to shoot darts or arrows where such pains had no obvious external cause. Belief in elfshot persisted into the 20th century in rural areas, and as proof country folk would sometimes find small arrowheads (the remains of Neolithic or Mesolithic flints, or naturally-occurring spear-shaped stones) that were believed to be the magical weapons that caused the afflictions. Belief in elfshot began in the Pagan Germanic period.

Disc brooch with low-relief Borre style looped tendrils motif; catch broken and disc pierced for use as a pendant. 8.76 grams, 29 mm



Acquired on the UK art market in the 1980s. From an East Anglian private collection.