Viking Age Iron Bearded Axehead

Gold cup with hoop and suspension loop, with carnelian insert. 0.78 grams, 16 mm



Ex property of a late Japanese collector, 1970-2000s.

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.

Comprising an elongated plate with longitudinal split and rivet, animal-head decoration to the narrow end; openwork scrolled tendril motif developing to a sinuous beast. 9.38 grams, 54 mm



Acquired on the UK art market in the 1980s. From an East Anglian private collection.

Comprising: two elliptical bronze tortoise brooches, each domed with raised ornament of four Borre-style faces with pellet eyes to the centre of a panel of body parts and hatching with two more faces to the narrow ends, wide flange, catchplate, pin-hinge and pendant attachment bar to the reverse; equal-arm brooch with two trapezoidal arms, each with raised Borre-Style geometric ornament, masks to the ends and central domed panel, lugs for the pin to the reverse, pierced lug to accept the chain; short chains of double-links. 280 grams total, 7.2 - 50.5 cm



From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.