Viking Age Iron Bearded Axehead

11TH-13TH CENTURY A.D.

6 1/2 in. (602 grams, 16.5 cm).

Finno-Ugrian with curved blade, swept rear edge, square chin, socket with downwards flanged sides. [No Reserve]

Provenance

Acquired 1971-1972.
From the collection of the vendor's father.
Property of a London, UK, collector.

Literature

Cf. Sedov, B.B., Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, pl.XCII, item 16.

Footnotes

This type of bearded axe seems to correspond to the category of Eastern Axes inside the Viking axe classification. Usually these bearded axeheads (skeggöks) had a longer edge, designed to split tree trunks into planks and beams. Some of the bearded axes were known as halfÞynna öx; the neck on such 'half thin axe' was thinly forged, to make it lighter. Bearded axes of this type appear also in the weaponry of people from the Baltic.

CONDITION

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LOT 1426