Viking Age Silver Shield-Shaped Pendant with Sun

D-shaped in section with T-shaped finial and central annulet. 8.25 grams, 22 mm

Fine condition.

From a collection formed prior to 2000. From the property of a Cambridgeshire, UK, gentleman.

Gold cup with hoop and suspension loop, aqua glass insert. 0.55 grams, 16 mm



From a late Japanese specialist collector, 1970-2000s.

This amulet was believed to offer protection against 'Elfshot'. The attack of elves was believed responsible for mysterious suffering in men and livestock: sudden shooting pains localised to a particular area of the body, such as in rheumatism, arthritis or muscle stitches or cramps. Elves were thought to shoot darts or arrows where such pains had no obvious external cause. Belief in elfshot persisted into the 20th century in rural areas, and as proof country folk would sometimes find small arrowheads (the remains of Neolithic or Mesolithic flints, or naturally-occurring spear-shaped stones) that were believed to be the magical weapons that caused the afflictions. Belief in elfshot began in the Pagan Germanic period.

With flexed bow and trefoil ends, each with a granule to each lobe and incised geometric hatching, two small voids and applied bust of a bear with forepaws raised to the cheeks; central disc with hatched crown and knop finial; iron pin and catch to the underside. 64 grams, 80 mm



From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12071-213599.

The exact identity of the animals is disputed: on some examples, such as those from Birka published by Arbman, the animals have an ursine quality whereas the present ones look more like mice or squirrels.