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_900x900.jpg "Viking Age Gold 'Hack Money' Section")
_200x200.jpg "Viking Age Gold 'Hack Money' Section")
.jpg "Viking Age Gold 'Hack Money' Section")
LOT 1643
Viking Age Gold 'Hack Money' Section
CIRCA 9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
3/4 in. (3.33 grams, 20 mm).
A hacked irregular piece of gold ingot, probably melted down loot creating a monetised piece of 'Hack' for Viking trade. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceProperty of a Cambridgeshire, UK, collector.
From his private collection since the 1970s; thence by descent circa 2000.
Ex private collection of a Bedfordshire gentleman.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
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AUCTIONS:
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Scandinavian Viking Iron Fire Steel with Bronze Handle with Conjoined Horse Heads
9th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £182
Bronze handle formed as two opposing horse-heads on ribbed necks, slot to underside to accept the verrous striker. 31 grams, 54 mm
From 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. -
Viking Age Gold Elfshot Pendant
9th-11th century A.D. or earlierSold for (Inc. bp): £260
Comprising a D-shaped gold cap with integral loop above, inset glass bead. 1.30 grams, 19 mm
Ex property of a late Japanese collector, 1970-2000s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
This amulet was believed to offer protection against 'Elfshot'. The attack of elves was believed responsible for mysterious suffering in men and livestock: sudden shooting pains localised to a particular area of the body, such as in rheumatism, arthritis or muscle stitches or cramps. Elves were thought to shoot darts or arrows where such pains had no obvious external cause. Belief in elfshot persisted into the 20th century in rural areas, and as proof country folk would sometimes find small arrowheads (the remains of Neolithic or Mesolithic flints, or naturally-occurring spear-shaped stones) that were believed to be the magical weapons that caused the afflictions. Belief in elfshot began in the Pagan Germanic period. -
Late Anglo-Scandinavian Viking Bronze Casket Key
10th-13th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
For a slide lock, the shaft with an open circular projection to one end and a larger openwork rectangular projection to the other end terminating with a T-shaped extension. 7.67 grams, 54 mm
Acquired on the UK art market circa 2005. From an old North Country, UK, collection. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
There is much discussion among the scholars on such slide keys, known popularly as 'Viking' keys. According to Kevin Leahy '...they do look something like the keys that come from Viking graves and from Viking sites but I have never seen an example that had the 'T' shaped extension for the end of the bit and I can't actually see how this would have functioned in a slide lock.' An iron example was found at Coppergate in York, in a 12th to 13th century context.
