Viking Lead Gaming Board 'King Piece' with Plundered Bronze Styca

Gold cup with hoop and suspension loop, aqua glass insert. 0.55 grams, 16 mm



From a late Japanese specialist collector, 1970-2000s.

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.

Axehead with sunburst motif to one face, on suspension loop with coiled ends. 1.92 grams, 32 mm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman.

Comprising: two dome-headed dress pins; three pieces of hack-silver ingot; five miniature axeheads; a mitre-shaped finger ring; and other items. 42.8 grams total, 9-53 mm



Acquired on the London art market in the late 1980s-1990s. From the family collection of an East London, UK, gentleman.