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LOT 0354
Viking Bronze Tortoise Brooch Necklace Set with Pendants
9TH CENTURY A.D.
22 x 22 1/4 in. (7.7 kg total, 56 x 54 cm including display frame).
Comprising: two oval brooches, each domed with raised ornament, wide flange, ferrous remains of the pin to the reverse; suspended from the lower edge of each brooch a triangular openwork spacer plate with three tiers of red and green glass tubular beads, the lower tier with a discoid pendant plaque with bands of raised pellets; three double-link chains running between the plates; three more chains from each plate with an amuletic or decorative pendant comprising a bronze model knife in its sheath, a silver(?) Dirhem coin, an iron model dog with punched decoration, a latch-lifter key, a pair of bronze crotal bells, a stone disc or spindle whorl; displayed on a large high-quality custom-made display stand by Colin Bowles Limited.
ProvenanceFamily collection formed after World War II; thence by descent.
Ex London collection since 2016.
Cf. MacGregor, A. et al., A Summary Catalogue of the Continental Archaeological Collections, Oxford, 1997, item 4, for oval brooches; see also Ewing, T., Viking Clothing, Stroud, 2007.
FootnotesWomen's display jewellery in the Viking age comprised both utilitarian and symbolic items. The brooches were worn high on the chest, supporting an apron-type overdress (hangerok) with the beads and chains strung between them and various small items attached. The pendants probably symbolised the authority of the female in the domestic sphere (key, coin, spindle whorl), and in husbandry (model animal, crotal bells, model knife).
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LOT 0354
Viking Bronze Tortoise Brooch Necklace Set with Pendants
Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,950
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Pre-Viking Iron Slave Chain Shackle
6th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £442
Comprising thirty-eight 8-shaped iron links, with interstitial H-shaped twisted elements; securing ring at the upper end; iron ring at the lower end with thick linked ring and two substantial shackles, each a pair of parallel bars with a loop at each end; attached to each a flat rectangular-section fetter with substantial retaining rivet. 4.45 kg, 2.57 m long
Acquired 1971-1972. From the collection of the vendor's father. Property of a London, UK, collector.
The shackles are formed with an elliptical void in order to accommodate a human foot, closed with an iron rivet which could not have been easily removed without heating the metal. -
Viking Age Bronze Penannular Brooch with Dragon
Circa 10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £468
The hoop with a stylised zoomorphic design representing a bird, decorative collars and articulate tongue with openwork geometric dragon motif with head modelled in the half-round; long pin lost in antiquity. 37 grams, 59 mm
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s. -
Viking Age Bronze Facing Mask Strap Fitting
11th century A.D.Estimate: £150 - 200 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £50
Comprising a plaque with two lateral arms, pierced for attachment, and two loops below secured with rivets; the arms with notched and lobed edges, the plaque with central motif of a bearded face with lobes to the temples, pellet eyes, modelled in the half-round. 9.19 grams, 36 mm
Acquired on the German art market before 2000. From an old Munich collection.
