Viking Age Silver Axehead Pendant

Comprising a narrow shank expanding to broad rectangular plaques, each with hatched borders and incised detailing. 16.8 grams, 60 mm



UK private collection before 2000. Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a London gentleman.

Comprising: two elliptical bronze tortoise brooches, each domed with raised ornament of four Borre-style faces with pellet eyes to the centre of a panel of body parts and hatching with two more faces to the narrow ends, wide flange, catchplate, pin-hinge and pendant attachment bar to the reverse; two suspension links, each an omega-shaped loop with lateral coiled ends and ring above; three swags of graduated beads (restrung) - upper: pale blue glass oblate beads, crystal annular beads, melon beads; middle: deep blue and dark green glass and lapis lazuli polyhedral and annular beads; lower: oblate and polyhedral amber and glass beads. 310 grams total, 57 cm total long



From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.

The most characteristic items of Viking period women's jewellery are oval brooch pairs, called 'tortoise brooches' in the literature. As in this example, the brooches themselves were usually connected by swags of coloured beads or by chains supporting tools such as tweezers or a small knife, as well as amulets.

Belt mount with loop above and strap to reverse; openwork frame with rosettes and central facing mask. 3..25 grams, 32 mm



Acquired in Germany after WWII. Ex property of a lady living in Kent, UK; formerly part of her grandfather's collection. From an old private collection of Norfolk, UK, gentleman, formed since 1998.

The image is often interpreted as the trickster-god Loki bound to a rock, as he was said to be in Norse myth (e.g. the poem Völuspá, verse 35).