Viking Bronze Hunting Dog Leash Swivel with Bear-Head Terminals

Openwork pendant formed as four addorsed bird-heads; applied strap. 4.69 grams, 21 mm



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

Williams's Class A Type 1 with trapezoidal plaque and narrow ledge to the rear; incised geometric design following the outline of the mount with symmetrical panels; to the neck five vertical lines, perhaps pseudo-runes. 19.88 grams, 50 mm



Property of a gentleman; acquired in the 1970s.

The markings on the neck appear to conform to the shapes of four runes, being inverted chevrons to the edges (runic 'U'), a character of two verticals and a sloping cross-bar (runic 'H'), and a simple vertical stroke (runic 'I'). However, the outer chevrons are formed as the junction of the inner border with a vertical while the cross-bar appears to be a later abrasion. The form of 'H' with a single cross-bar is very early (2nd -5th century AD) and is almost unknown in England, while by the 8th century this form had been replaced in Scandinavia by a rune formed as a vertical with a small saltire to the centre (like an asterisk). It is nevertheless possible that these marks were intended as a form of pseudo-runic text.

A twisted neck-ring coiled almost double with looped ends. 134 grams, 16 cm



Acquired on the European art market in the 1980s, and thence by descent. From an important private family collection of arms and armour.