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_900x900.jpg "Viking Age Bronze Fire Steel with Figure and Animals")
_200x200.jpg "Viking Age Bronze Fire Steel with Figure and Animals")
.jpg "Viking Age Bronze Fire Steel with Figure and Animals")
LOT 1645
Viking Age Bronze Fire Steel with Figure and Animals
8TH-10TH CENTURY A.D.
2 3/8 in. (58 grams, 60 mm).
With openwork bifacial handle depicting central standing figure with arms outstretched towards the necks of two flanking rampant beasts; iron blade beneath; Finno-Ugric type.
ProvenanceFrom the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
See Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.144, item 1, for type.
CONDITIONTimeLine 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:
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LOT 1645
Viking Age Bronze Fire Steel with Figure and Animals
Estimate £400 - 600€460 - 700 (for guidance only)$540 - 810 (for guidance only)
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Large Pre-Viking Gold Bracteate Medallion with Interlaced Snakes
5th-6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £5,720
Executed using the repoussé technique, depicting interlaced snakes or possibly Jörmungandr, the world serpent; applied suspension loop with repoussé chevrons and pellets, faux ropework border around the whole. 13.04 grams, 61 mm
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s. 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.11729-200423.
The bracteate belongs to the main type D, showing an image of tetramorphic monsters. Probably here the representation refers to Jörmungandr, the serpent of Midgard, son of Loki and killer of Thor, protagonist of Ragnarok - the downfall of the gods. The art of the bracteate medallions is one of the few contemporary sources for the pre-Christian religion of the Nordic countries. It demonstrates that ancient Germanic mythology, although known from later texts, was built on a tradition dating back to at least the 5th-6th centuries A.D. The function of these medallions was linked to the social position of the wearer in Germanic society. -
Viking Inspired Bronze Omega Brooch
Mordvinian, 12th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
Decoration to the trapezoidal plates with raised pellets and braided borders. 16 grams, 56 mm
Property of a North West London, UK, gallery; formerly in a 1980s collection. From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman. -
Anglo-Scandinavian Viking Bronze Bound Odin Openwork Stirrup Apex Mount Upper Section
11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
Of an excessively rare example of Williams Class A, Type 3 showing a standing nude man with beard and long moustache, an animal-like form around the man's waist extending towards the flanking serpents on each side. 14.8 grams, 41 mm
Found Gloucestershire, UK.
Based on comparable examples, when complete the serpents' tails wrapped around the man's legs, and their open jaws gaped on either side of his head.
