Viking Age Twisted Bronze Bracelet

A Finno-Ugrian or Baltic hand-forged iron axehead with triangular-section narrow blade widening to a broad bevelled edge with square chin and spur to the rear, socket with flanges to the rear. 694 grams, 14.2 cm



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

During the mid 13th century, the axes were favourited by Baltic people. For instance, the Curonian army included lightly armed soldiers who fought with spears, shields, fighting knives and axes. A heavily armed soldier could also carry a sword, a helmet, a shield and a wide bladed axe.

Triangular in profile with openwork Urnes Style interlace, attachment pins to lower corners (one absent). 11.2 grams, 41 mm



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

The design is clearly based on the contemporary stirrup mount style with dense openwork interlace and attachment points; the item lacks the rear ledge and attachment stud of the true mounts.

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.