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LOT 1927
Viking Bronze 'Bear's Tooth' Amulet with Chain
9TH–EARLY 11TH CENTURY A.D.
7 1/2 in. (36.8 grams, 19 cm).
Comprising: a length of double-link bronze chain; pendant amuletic formed as a bear's tooth with ribbed shank and two pairs of incised ring-and-dot motifs; Baltic workmanship.
ProvenanceAcquired on the London art market, 1990s.
Private collection, London.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
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AUCTIONS:
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Viking Age Bronze Double Horse Pendant with Bell Dangles
8th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £494
Pendant plaque formed with addorsed horse-heads and row of loops below, each with a short chain and bell-shaped dangle; Finno-Ugric type; mounted on a custom-made stand. 143 grams total, pendant: 96 mm (18.4 cm including stand)
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato. -
Pre-Viking Silver-Gilt Human-Headed Eagle Brooch
Circa 700 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,105
With broad looped body and wing, trapezoidal segmented tail, small angled claw; lentoid cell in the bow of the wing with inset garnet cloison; head with hooked beak and discoid panel with human facial feature; pin-lug to reverse with mineralised remains, possibly textile, and catch. 13.48 grams, 49 mm
By repute found in the Kristiansand area, Norway, in the early 20th century. From the collection of Jay Wilford, formed prior to 2000. Acquired at the Royal Horticultural Hall antiques fair, Westminster, London, UK. Property of a gentleman collector. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
The brooch resembles the form of aviform fibula found in the Baltic area, e.g. on Öland. The human face on a bird's body has parallels in the Sutton Hoo burial where the shield bears a bird in profile with a human mask on the hip. In the present case, the mask may represent the legend of Welund (Norse Völundr), the supernatural smith who creates a bird-form in order to escape from his captor, King Niðhad. This legend is known from Icelandic poetic references (Völundarkviða in the Verse Edda) and from Anglo-Saxon tradition. -
Viking Age Bronze Dragon Pendant with Foot Dangles
8th-10th century A.D.Estimate: £400 - 600 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £200
Horizontal braided band with horse-head finial, loop to reverse, band of loops to lower edge, each with a duck-foot dangle; Finno-Ugric type; mounted on a custom-made stand. 79 grams total, pendant: 71 mm wide (13.2 cm including stand)
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.