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LOT 1473
Viking Age Bronze Tortoise Brooch with Jellinge Style Ornament
10TH CENTURY A.D.
3 3/4 in. (74 grams, 93 mm).
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. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceEx property of a Dutch collector before 2014.
From the collection of a North American gentleman.
Cf. Nerman, B., Die Vendelzeit Gotlands, Stockholm, 1969, pl.VII:5, item 271.
FootnotesTortoise 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.
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 1473
Viking Age Bronze Tortoise Brooch with Jellinge Style Ornament
Sold for (Inc. bp): £546
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Viking Age Bronze Contorted Gripping Beast Pendant
Late 10th-early 11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £390
Scandinavian pendant of Norelund type with integral suspension loop; the openwork plaque with three-band border and four panels, internal stylised zoomorph with hatched panel to the hip, gripping hands to the body and border, facing mask below the loop. 6.22 grams, 34 mm
Acquired on the German art market before 2000. From an old Munich collection.
There is a class of discoid pendants with banded borders and contorted figures found in the hinterland of the Baltic region, associated with the influence of Scandinavian settlers. The design of these items recalls specific elements of Scandinavian art - for example, the 'gripping hands' motif is a feature of the Oseberg Style named after the famous Norwegian ship-burial. Oseberg Style is associated with the beginnings of the Viking age, and was current in the 9th century when Scandinavian settlers began to establish centres of trade and political control in the area of the rivers Dnieper and Volga. The motif has been interpreted as a horse and linked with various legends and mythic figures, including Sigurð's fight with the dragon Fafnir. -
Viking Age Bronze Ring with Stamped Design
Circa 9th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
With lozengiform plaque, pointillé detailing. 2.78 grams, 21.79 mm overall, 19.15 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R, USA 8 1/2, Europe 18 3/4, Japan 18)
Acquired 1970s-1980s. From the collection of a German gentleman living in London. Ex private Merseyside, UK, collection, since 2015. -
Pre-Viking Large Crystal Lens Magnifier with Bronze Case and Wrapping
5th-7th century A.D.Estimate: £800 - 1,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £280
The group comprising: a polished rock crystal lens for magnification, formed with a domed upper face and gently convex base; two-part sheet-bronze case consisting of a domed lid and dish-style base, both components pierced; a relatively large textile fragment. 165 grams total, 5-29 cm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.
