Viking Period Bronze Pendant with Duck-Foot Dangles

Finely curved, broad blade with a chin to the lower edge, a rounded socket with lateral triangular extensions; professionally cleaned, conserved, and restored. 411 grams, 18.5 cm



From the family collection of a South East London collector; formerly acquired in the late 1950s.

This type of bearded axe seems to correspond to the E2 category of the Viking axe classification, but also has affinity with the Slavic axes of type Y. Usually, these bearded axeheads (skeggöks) had a longer edge, designed to split tree trunks into planks and beams. Some of the bearded axes were known as halfÞynna öx; the neck on such a 'half thin axe' was thinly forged, to make it lighter.

Rectangular with beaded border and pin-hole to each corner; low-relief scene of a male standing left wearing an open-fronted coat extending his arms towards an opposed female in floor-length robe, holding a hooked staff and with her long hair draped to her rear. 2.39 grams, 22 mm



Ex Paul Revell, circa 1985. From a private UK collection, 1980s onwards.

Hoop with coiled wire closure; free-running axehead pendant decorated with incised triangle motif, ring-and-dot at each angle and to centre. 9.47 grams, 45 mm



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