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LOT 1736
Viking Bronze Fire Steel with Dragons
CIRCA 10TH CENTURY A.D.
2 1/4 in. (37.6 grams, 57 mm).
With bronze handle formed as two opposing dragons, each biting its own tail forming the loops; iron striker below. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.
LiteratureCf. Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.144, item 2.
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AUCTIONS:
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Anglo-Scandinavian Viking Bronze Stirrup Apex Mount with Beasts
10th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,040
Broad and shallow with narrow pierced ledge to reverse, Williams's Class B; openwork scene of two quadrupeds addorsed with legs resting on the outer edge of the frame and heads turned towards the median column; three loops to the curved upper edge. 35.2 grams, 52 mm
Found Spalding, Lincolnshire, UK.
This exact from does not appear in Williams's study, although examples with addorsed animals do appear in the 'Unclassified' section (p.102-4). The general shape and proportions are consistent with his Class B examples. -
Anglo-Scandinavian Viking Gilt Bronze Urnes Stirrup Apex Mount
11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £572
Heater-shaped in profile with openwork Urnes Style interlace, holes for attachment pins to lower corners, beast-head finial to apex; remains of attachment rivets and strap to reverse. 17.8 grams, 55 mm
Found Stowmarket, Suffolk, UK.
A high-quality gilded example, for which we can find no parallel, extremely rare. -
Pre-Viking Bronze Owl Mount
Finno-Ugric, 6th-8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £364
Modelled in the half-round, mount with lugs to the reverse, ropework border; Polomskoy Culture. 11.4 grams, 40 mm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.