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LOT 1747
Viking Age Iron Socketted Hook-Billed Axehead
CIRCA 9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
6 in. (618 grams, 15.2 cm).
With a long, deeply curved blade, short neck, socket with slightly curved wings above and below, and hammer-face to rear; professionally cleaned, conserved, and restored. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom the family collection of a South East London collector; formerly acquired in the late 1950s.
LiteratureCf. Sedov, B.B., Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, plate CXXIV, item 1.
FootnotesThese axes are typical of Baltic workmanship. During this age, the axes were the favourite weapons of many Baltic people, including the Curonian army, which included lightly armed soldiers who fought with spears, shields, fighting knives and axes. A heavily armed soldier could also carry a sword, a helmet, a shield, and a wide-bladed axe.
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Viking Period Silver Mount Pair
Circa 9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
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From an old English collection, 1980s. -
Viking Age Silver Pendant with Agate Bead
Circa 9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £247
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Viking Age Iron Socketted Bearded Axehead
Circa 10th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £468
Finely curved, broad blade with a chin to the lower edge, a rounded socket with lateral triangular extensions; professionally cleaned, conserved, and restored. 411 grams, 18.5 cm
From the family collection of a South East London collector; formerly acquired in the late 1950s.
This type of bearded axe seems to correspond to the E2 category of the Viking axe classification, but also has affinity with the Slavic axes of type Y. 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 a 'half thin axe' was thinly forged, to make it lighter.
