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LOT 1571
Viking Age Iron Fire-Striker with Bronze Serpent Handle
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
3 in. (39 grams, 79 mm).
Comprising a flat band with two hoops for the fingers forming the body of a serpent with raised head behind, iron striking face to the lower edge. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.
LiteratureCf. Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.144 (2).
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 1571
Viking Age Iron Fire-Striker with Bronze Serpent Handle
Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
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Anglo-Scandinavian Viking Bronze Ring
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
A slender shank with the ends twisted together, lozengiform plaque with punched ring-and-dot and bowtie motifs. 1.76 grams, 29 mm
Found North Wold, Norfolk, UK. From an East Anglian private collection. -
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Viking Age Gold Plunder Dinar Coin Pendant
8th-9th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £416
Formed using an Abbasid Caliphate dinar coin with ridged suspension loop attached. 4.43 grams, 22 mm
Acquired in the late 1970s and 1980s. Ex property of a London gentleman.
Such Islamic coins were traded across the Viking world and have been discovered as grave goods or in hoards (as coins and as jewellery items) in Scandinavia and the Baltic area. -
Viking Age Iron Axe-Hammer
Circa 11th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
With a broad curved blade, narrow neck and hammer extension to the rear; round socket. 324 grams, 19.5 cm
From the collection of a Californian, USA, gentleman, dating back to the late 1960s.
The more common weapons of Finno-Ugrian people were axes commonly found from all Finnic areas, as well as spears. Among Baltic-Finnic people, especially in Finland and Karelia, knives called 'puukko' were common, as well as axes, spears, flat bows and long bows, while swords were usually imported from Germanic areas, Sweden or from elsewhere Scandinavia, some having often typically Scandinavian animal ornaments, although there are some Finnish made finds too.
