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_900x900.jpg "Viking Bronze Tortoise Brooch Set")
_200x200.jpg "Viking Bronze Tortoise Brooch Set")
.jpg "Viking Bronze Tortoise Brooch Set")
LOT 0288
Viking Bronze Tortoise Brooch Set
10TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
21 in. (334 grams, hangs 53 cm).
Comprising a pair of domed brooches with low-relief zoomorphic decoration in bands, pin to the reverse on a transverse bar, reinforced catchplate; attached to a loop on the reverse of each brooch, a spacer formed as a lobed plaque with double rosette detailing and loops below, two chains connecting to the matched brooch; from the rosette spacers hang two more chains, one with a needle case with openwork knotwork plaque handle above, the other with a decorated lunate pendant.
ProvenanceProperty of a professional collector; acquired before 1990.
Ex London collection since 2016.
Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11736-201216.
For similar oval brooches see Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pls.58ff. and in particular 62-63, 67; see also Graham-Campbell, J. & Kidd, D., The Vikings, London, 1980, figs.52-53, for similar brooches from Norway; Roesdahl, E., Wilson D.M., From Viking to Crusader: The Scandinavians and Europe 800 to 1200 (22nd Council of Europe Exhibition), Copenhagen, 1992, p.69, pp.75, 89, for similar specimens; Berthelot, S., Musin, A., Russie Viking, vers une autre Normandie? Novgorod et la Russie du Nord, des migrations scandinaves á la fin due Moyen Age (VIIIe-Xve s.), Paris, 2011, pp.90-91.
FootnotesThe most characteristic items of Viking women's jewellery are oval brooch pairs, sometimes called 'tortoise brooches' due to their shape, which are found in many female graves of the period. As in this example, the brooches themselves were usually connected by swags of chains, suspended from the pair of brooches and supporting utilitarian objects such as tweezers, an ear spoon, shears or a small knife, as well as amulets. In addition the wearer displayed strands of beads of glass, silver, amber or jet.
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Viking Age Silver-Gilt Mount with Figure
Circa 10th century A.D.Estimate: £800 - 1,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £320
Sub-rectangular with lip to the reverse; high-relief facing figure with band of straight hair, omega-shaped brow and pellet eyes, stubby body and arms, splayed legs above two omega-shaped elements forming a rosette; mounting plate absent. 15.2 grams, 32 mm
Acquired early 1990s. From an East Anglian private collection.
The identity of the facing figure is unknown. There is an earlier, probably 9th century, Anglo-Saxon strap end with a facing nude male in low-relief which might be comparable (Thomas, 2007, item 8). -
Viking Age Bronze Coiled Ring
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
With curved ellipsoidal bezel decorated with zigzags, coiled arms tapering to points. 5.46 grams, 25.56 mm overall, 16.72 mm internal diameter (approximate size British O, USA 7, Europe 14.98, Japan 14)
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s. -
Viking Age Borre Style Bronze Strap End with Wolf's Head
10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
With five attachment pins to the reverse, panel of Borre style ring-chain ornament with transverse ribbed panel, mask to the tip. 7.61 grams, 44 mm
Acquired before 1990. Ex property of a professional collector.
The Borre style was a Viking art style which had a significant impact on the material culture of Britain during the Viking age of the latter 9th and 10th centuries. The type is mainly divided into three sub-types on the basis of motifs used: a) animal masks and ring-knot; b) vertebral ring-chain; and c) other interlace designs. Our specimen belongs to the first sub-type.
