Loading, please wait...

Viking Age Bronze Equal-Arm Brooch Pair Viking Age Bronze Equal-Arm Brooch Pair Viking Age Bronze Equal-Arm Brooch Pair
Use mousewheel to zoom in and out, click to enlarge
Details

LOT 1465

Viking Age Bronze Equal-Arm Brooch Pair

9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.

3 - 3 3/8 in. (109 grams total, 78-84 mm).

With central dome and upturned ends, ribbed and textured detailing to the obverse, catch and pin-lugs to the reverse. [2, No Reserve]

Provenance

From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.

Literature

Cf. Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.78; for reconstruction of how they were used see Various, The Viking, Gothenburg, 1984, pp.201, figs.2-4.

Footnotes

Equal-armed bronze brooches of this category were found in various graves of Birka’s cemeteries (graves 444, 603, 535, 551, 577 and 483). They were all female graves and these clasps were used to fasten the cloaks in the upper part of the dress.

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 1465

Viking Age Bronze Equal-Arm Brooch Pair

Sold for (Inc. bp): £143

Print page

RELATED LOTS
  • Viking Age Bronze Penannular Pendant with Dragons
    Viking Age Bronze Penannular Pendant with Dragons
    9th-11th century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £169

    Curved shank with collars and dragon-head finials joined to a plaque with hatched texture, loop to the reverse with wire hoop. 10.8 grams, 46 mm



    From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.

    Lot Details

  • Viking Age Bronze Tortoise Brooch with Jellinge Style Ornament
    Viking Age Bronze Tortoise Brooch with Jellinge Style Ornament
    10th century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £546

    Comprising a domed, elliptical body and narrow flange border; the decorative scheme comprising four lobed faces with annular eyes amid Jellinge Style tendril ornamentation and a barred field; an asymmetrical piercing to the flange for a swag of beads to be attached to the rim; catch to the reverse together with a sturdy T-shaped fitting for the pin attached to the inside of the dome. 74 grams, 93 mm



    Ex property of a Dutch collector before 2014. From the collection of a North American gentleman.

    Tortoise brooches were associated strongly with wealthy females in Scandinavian communities from Ireland to Russia. Regional taste affected the decoration and the height of the dome; the present example has a carinated profile.

    Lot Details

  • Viking Bronze Tortoise Brooch Set
    Viking Bronze Tortoise Brooch Set
    10th-11th century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,820

    Comprising a pair of domed brooches with low-relief zoomorphic decoration in bands, pin to the reverse on a transverse bar, reinforced catchplate; attached to a loop on the reverse of each brooch, a spacer formed as a lobed plaque with double rosette detailing and loops below, two chains connecting to the matched brooch; from the rosette spacers hang two more chains, one with a needle case with openwork knotwork plaque handle above, the other with a decorated lunate pendant. 334 grams, hangs 53 cm

    Fine condition. Rare.

    Property of a professional collector; acquired before 1990. Ex London collection since 2016. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11736-201216.

    The most characteristic items of Viking women's jewellery are oval brooch pairs, sometimes called 'tortoise brooches' due to their shape, which are found in many female graves of the period. As in this example, the brooches themselves were usually connected by swags of chains, suspended from the pair of brooches and supporting utilitarian objects such as tweezers, an ear spoon, shears or a small knife, as well as amulets. In addition the wearer displayed strands of beads of glass, silver, amber or jet.

    Lot Details

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