Viking and Saxon Artefact Group

Disc-shaped with incised Sol Invictus motif; integral loop with end wound about the shank. 0.97 grams, 29 mm



Property of the vendor's grandfather, thence by family descent, circa 1985. From the private collection of a New York, USA gentleman.

With decorative upper surface attached to a plain back-plate with spring-lugs and catchplate intact; the upper face divided by a heavy cast median rib with zoomorphic ornament in the outer panels, arranged symmetrically along the rib with a similar transverse band; the corners of the wider end reinforced with vertical posts ending in heavy lobed ‘ears’; the side panels decorated with zones of interlace ornament and the upper-end panel with a continuation of the median rib, traces of ornamental interlace; the lower-end panel plain; the transverse band pierced by two holes to accept pins (part of one one still in situ) representing 'eyes' on the stylised head; hollow-cast. 62 grams, 56 mm



Acquired in the early 1990s. From an old English collection.

These animal head-brooches were seemingly manufactured solely on Gotland, and have been classified by scholars in various ways: for example, the manner in which the back-plate is formed and applied, or if a plain internal shell was overlaid with an openwork decorative casing. MacGregor classified them according to their decorative criteria, and his scheme is generally followed in Anglophone literature. They began to appear in the Vendel period (earlier 8th century) and continued into the 12th century in a broadly similar form. Our fitting is related to the conventional group of the gripping beast ornament, here very stylised.

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. 46.80, 62.38 mm.



Ex property of a professional collector; acquired before 1990.

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.