Viking Age Silver Axehead Pendant

Two tongue-shaped panels forming two of the three arms of a trefoil brooch; each with a low-relief design of ring-and-dot motifs connected by straps with lateral spurs. 17.6 grams total, 37 mm each



Found Suffolk, UK. From an old private collection of Norfolk, UK, gentleman, formed since 1998.

The two panels bear the same design and clearly belong o the same brooch; the variation in their modern appearance is probably due to the soil conditions in which they were preserved.

A flat-section Mordvinian type brooch comprising a penannular band and two trapezoidal plates; the tongue round-section with flat scroll around the band; the plates each with raised pellets and four pierced lugs to the outer edges. 12.4 grams, 55 mm



Ex property of an Essex gentleman. Property of a Scottish collector, acquired in 2013.

This type of brooch belongs to the typologies of the omega brooches. It was probably used by Ugro-Finnic people to fasten the shirt at the neck or to attach other lighter garments. These brooches evolved to become very elaborate, with dangling springs from the edges, and were often worn in pairs, destined to female garments. In this late Viking period their coins demonstrated Russian and Eastern Roman influences in their art and jewellery.

Twibil pendant with flared blades and central elliptical shaft-hole. 6.68 grams, 43 mm



Acquired on the London art market in the late 1980s-1990s. From the family collection of an East London, UK, gentleman.