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LOT 1370
Viking Age Iron Long Bearded Axehead
CIRCA 10TH-12TH CENTURY A.D.
7 1/8 in. (740 grams, 18 cm).
With broad curved blade and short spur beneath the chin, narrow neck, deep socket with extended edge to the reverse. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom the collection of a Californian, USA, gentleman, dating back to the late 1960s.
LiteratureCf. Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.14, item 3; Kirpichnikov, A.N., Drevnerusskoe Oruzie, II, Moscow-Leningrad, 1966, in Arkheologiia SSSR, vol. E1-36, especially axes nos.1,5, from Веськово and Селибка (pl.XIII), and no.6 (pl.XXII) from Гусева Гора; Sedov, B.B., Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, pl V, items 16, 17, 20; pl.CXXIV, item 1.
FootnotesThe axe seems to be a variation of type IV of the Kirpichnikov classification of the Eastern Rus Axes typology. These axes appeared in the 10th century, and continued in the 10th-11th century.
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From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11925-209658.
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