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LOT 0322
Viking Bronze Protective Armlet
9TH-10TH CENTURY A.D.
4 3/8 in. (216 grams, 11.2 cm).
Omega-shaped in plan with raised flange rim to both edges; bands of punched ornament to each face.
ProvenanceAcquired on the UK art market, 1995-2000s.
Private collection, London, UK.
Cf. The British Museum, museum number 1852,0329.194, for similar identified as Latgalian.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0322
Viking Bronze Protective Armlet
Estimate £800 - 1,000€930 - 1,160 (for guidance only)$1,080 - 1,350 (for guidance only)
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Viking Silver Elfshot Pendant with Stone Arrowhead
9th-11th century A.D. and earlierSold for (Inc. bp): £572
An amulet with a silver cap securing an arrow-shaped flint insert. 2.43 grams, 34 mm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.
This amulet was believed to offer protection against 'Elfshot'. The attack of elves was believed responsible for mysterious suffering in men and livestock: sudden shooting pains localised to a particular area of the body, such as in rheumatism, arthritis, or muscle stitches or cramps. Elves were thought to shoot darts or arrows where such pains had no obvious external cause. Belief in elfshot persisted into the 20th century in rural areas, and as proof, country folk would sometimes find small arrowheads (the remains of Neolithic or Mesolithic flints, or naturally-occurring spear-shaped stones) that were believed to be the magical weapons that caused the afflictions. Belief in elfshot began in the Pagan Germanic period. -
Scandinavian Silver Bowl with Embossed Centre
Circa 13th century A.D.Estimate: £4,000 - 6,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £2,000
Dipping bowl, raised from a single sheet of silver, decorated with an incised rosette to the underside with central omphalos; rolled and everted rim; inner face with repoussé rosette, each petal with a stylised beast reserved on a pounced field; later applied central rosette with acanthus border, tondo with repoussé wyvern rampant. 134 grams, 15.5 cm
Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12978-244536. -
Viking Bronze Openwork Box Brooch with Silver Detailing
11th century A.D.Estimate: £600 - 800 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £300
Formed as an openwork outer shell, inner container and bottom plate; the upper face with central conical boss and four small satellite bosses each with a silver surface disc; to the outer face four pierced tongue-shaped panels with D-shaped finials proud of the upper face, each with a silvered element to the upper end; the bottom plate with integral catchplate and central void, four attachment pins to the underside; the upper face and sidewall executed in Urnes style zoomorphic openwork; the inner element a plain sheet-bronze container. 95 grams, 55 mm
Acquired in the 1950s. Ex private collection, South West England.
On the Baltic island of Gotland, high-ranking females wore 'box' (or 'drum') brooches to secure their outer garments at the shoulders. The inner container may have been used to hold small valuables.
