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Details
LOT 0338
Viking Age Bronze Lower Sword Guard with Dragons
11TH-13TH CENTURY A.D.
4 in. (124 grams, 10 cm).
Sloping shoulders and transverse slot to the upper face, lateral beast-head terminals; panel of palmette ornament to each broad face with tendrils, dentilled lower edge; Baltic Curonian type.
Provenance
From the private family collection of a lady, UK; acquired in Germany mid 20th century.
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 a search certificate number no.12727-236128.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Literature
Cf. Tomsens, A., Symbolism of Medieval Swords from the Territory of Latvia During the 11th-13th Centuries, Lodz, 2013, pp.145-161, nos.2,3,7.
Footnotes
The cross guard finds good parallels with Baltic swords used by Prussian, Curonian, Estonian and Lithuanian pagan warriors; see a clear parallel in Tomsons, 2012, fig.2,7 but especially fig. 3. The Curonian Type T swords were thoroughly examined by Tomsons and he was able to date the type to the 11th to 13th centuries.
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LOT 0338
Viking Age Bronze Lower Sword Guard with Dragons
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000€2,320 - 3,480 (for guidance only)$2,700 - 4,050 (for guidance only)
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