Viking Period Tortoise Brooch and Chain Set

CIRCA 9TH-10TH CENTURY A.D.

3 1/4 - 13 1/4 in. (571 grams total, 8.2-33.5 cm).

A bronze female garniture comprising: two tortoise brooches each with pin-bar and catch to the reverse, one with remains of fabric; two D-shaped openwork chatelaines with scroll detailing and loops to the lower edge; chains of varying length supporting utensils including a small hone or whetstone, a crotal bell, a firesteel formed as a steel arc in a bronze frame with horse-head finials, a cosmetic scoop, an equal-arm brooch, a second chatelain with chains and bell-shaped pendants, a model knife-sheath, a latch-lifter with pierced-disc finial, another crotal bell; the two groups linked by a longer chain of larger links. [3, No Reserve]

Provenance

Acquired 1971-1972.
From the collection of the vendor's father.
Property of a London, UK, collector.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11648-198857.

Literature

Cf. Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, plate 58, for tortoise-brooch types.

CONDITION

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LOT 0260