Viking Age Silver Snake-Headed Bracelet

Two large fragments of headdress with plaited fibre, each composed from tightly-wound wire tubes and vertical flat-section plaques with repoussé pellet detailing on a plaited hemp base. 104 grams total, 19-23 cm



UK gallery, early 2000s.

Depicting Christ bound by his wrists to the cross, wearing trousers; granulation to the body indicates a patterned shirt; beaded border around the perimeter of the cross; this lot bears close parallels with the ‘Birka Crucifix’ held by the Swedish History Museum but is not made from silver. 9.32 grams, 31 mm

Very fine condition, some wear. Rare.

Acquired on the London art market in the 2000s.

The Birka Crucifix pendant, unearthed from Birka grave 660 in Uppland, Sweden, is thought to be the oldest representation of Christ in the Nordic world and bears many similarities to this lot. The Swedish History Museum’s example was excavated from the grave of a wealthy female Christian convert; it is a filigree figure of Christ bound to the cross by his wrists, wearing trousers; this lot is a lower-relief white metal filigree crucifix with integral suspension loop, featuring a representation of head and face executed in the same shape and style as that of the Birka Crucifix figure.

Rectangular-section bar of penannular form with reversed coil finials; incised blocks and saltires with punched-point detailing and hatching. 33 grams, 71 mm



Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK.