Viking Age Silver Axe-Shaped Pendant

A copper-alloy zoomorphic stirrup mount of Williams' Class A, Type 8; formed as a boar's head with stylised detailing; the mount is sub-triangular in plan displaying one head at the apex and two heads below, decoration comprising looping and bifurcating tendrils; shallow ledge to the reverse and three perforations for mounting. 23.3 grams, 55 mm

Fine condition, traces of strap to the reverse.

Found near Snargate, Kent, UK. Property of a Kent gentleman. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no. KENT-D935E8.

A bronze equal-arm brooch of Aargård Type III A, with central segmented boss, symmetrical flanges with low-relief geometric ornament and trefoil finial, raised studs to the panels of the trefoils and the central boss, pin to the reverse with lugs and separate rivetted catch (ancient repair?), single link from a copper-alloy suspension chain attached beside the pin-lug. 32.7 grams, 73 mm

Fine condition.

Acquired before 1960. From the family collection of a UK gentleman, by descent in the early 1970s.

A group of three Viking and pre-Viking boar's head brooches of different types comprising: a proto-animal-head brooch with swept profile, domed central panel and heater-shaped lateral flanges, catch to the foot; a proto-animal-head brooch decorated with domed central panel, two voids close to the upper edge, lateral conical domes to the corners, triangular snout with catch to the underside, zones of incised ornament; shallow dots and plain ears; a classic boar's head with lanceolate panels to the upper corners, rows of impressed dots, pierced at the top and hollow to accept a separate backplate with pin-lugs and catch. 42.8 grams total, 35-49 mm

Fine condition, pins absent.

UK gallery, acquired in the 2000s. Property of an English gentleman.

The brooch's origin in the late Roman crossbow brooch can be seen in the development of the final type.