Viking Age Fire Steel with Bronze Handle with Horse and Riders

Composed of a tapering, round-section body with flat base and inverted triangular mouth holding a moveable bar, suspended on a ring with twisted wire coils and stamped with small circles repeated on the bar below; the fish body decorated with four panels of low-relief Mammen Style interlacing with remains of gilding; two circular piercings to each side of the body. 23.2 grams, 72 mm high

Fine condition.

Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Ex Westminster collection, central London, UK.

Originally produced as a necklace element, refashioned at an unspecified point in antiquity into a pendant, possibly as early as the 9th-10th century A.D. Pendants of this type were worn strung together in groups, the tapering profile allowing them to sit comfortably as a collar below the neck. They were often worn suspended between two zoomorphic brooches. This example has been taken from a necklace and mounted on a suspension ring for use as an amuletic pendant.

Formed as a gold cap set with polished garnet; free-running suspension loop above. 0.54 grams, 17 mm



Acquired 1970-2010. Collection of a late Japanese gentleman.

Formed as a hollow drum-shaped casting with ornament to the obverse and sidewall; the high-relief designs comprising three radiating panels of Oseberg Style 'gripping-beast' motifs with a dome at the centre and three to the beaded border; the slightly sloping sidewall with four panels of S-shaped animals with interlaced tendrils, separated by beaded borders; to the reverse, the perimeter flange supported by two integral blocks supporting the catchplate and pin-hole respectively, the latter damaged and replaced by a second offset hole. 44 grams, 50 mm



European collection, acquired 1980s. Ex property of a UK collector. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no. 200319.

The Oseberg style shows a strong interplay between zoomorphic and geometric patterns that continues artistic traditions predating the Viking Age, but continued in the Viking Age at least until 875 A.D. While 8th century art and ornaments show considerable variation across Scandinavia, the gripping-beast motif was adopted in every region within a few decades after 790 A.D.