Viking Age Silver Sword Chape with Interlaced Design

CIRCA 9TH-10TH CENTURY A.D.

2 1/2 in. (46.80, 62.38 mm.).

With heater-shaped body and trefoil to the apex with lobe detailing, openwork Borre Style design to the body with three-band mesh design, facing mask with lobes to the upper edge, pellet eyes and moustache.

Provenance

Ex property of a professional collector; acquired before 1990.

Literature

Cf. Paulsen, P., Schwertortbänder der Wikingerzeit, Stuttgart, 1953, figs.48-55; Murasheva, V.V., Gnezdovo. Rezultati kompleksnikh issledovaniy pamiatnika, St. Petersburg, 2007, fig.9, items 1, 2; Yotov, V., The Vikings on the Balkans, Varna, 2003, pp.12-13, for the type.

Footnotes

The image seems to be a mixture of the two Scandinavian styles 'Borre' and 'Jellinge'. They belong to the style of 'German four legged beast' in Animal style from the Baltic Sea region, according to P. Paulsen's classification. The recent discoveries of similar chapes in the Balkans suggest their employment from the Varangian Guard of Byzantium in 10th century A.D.

CONDITION

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LOT 0393