Viking Age Silver Axe Pendant

With a hoop with overlapping terminals and coiled wire sleeves; free-running axehead pendant decorated with a single ring-and-dot motif from which radiate rows of pecked lines. 6.1 grams, 53 mm

Fine condition.

Dorset, UK, collection, 1990s. Ex property of a Sussex, UK, teacher.

Of Williams's Class A Type 10a, a heater-shaped plaque with pierced lug at the apex (broken), two piercings above the base, low-relief openwork Urnes style design with standing beast and entwined tendrils, narrow ledge to the reverse. 19.28 grams, 49 mm



Acquied on the UK art market. Private collection, Kent, UK.

A parcel-gilt plaque pendant with facing seated figure, probably the goddess Freyja, modelled in the half-round; the hands raised to grip lateral ribbed strands of hair, the garment formed as two crossed bands on the chest, the knees prominent and feet placed together; emerging from each strand of hair, a feline with curled tail, ribbed body, foreleg curled over the neck, notched fingers and triangular face with lappet and snubbed snout; loop above the head, three holes to the edges. 30.6 grams, 46 mm



Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13159-248791.

The figure represents a seated female accompanied by two cats. In the Icelandic poem Gylfaginning (The Deceiving of Gylfi), Freyja is said to be seated in her chariot drawn by two cats. Her hall in heaven is called Sessrumnir, meaning 'with room for many seats'. She is also associated with a high seat from which prophecy is made, similar to that of Odin.