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LOT 1115
Viking Rus Silver-Gilt Sword Belt End Group
10TH CENTURY A.D.
1 1/2 - 2 in. (34 grams total, 37-50 mm).
Comprising four sword belt strap ends of roughly rectangular form, with one rounded or gabled end and one fishtail end, each bearing a different nielloed decorative scheme, comprising: one with split front plate bearing geometric foliage framed by radiating lines to the perimeter; one with pelletted border and medial scrolled bar; one displaying a medial row of circular recesses and surrounding circular motifs; one decorated with five medial circular recesses on a ground of foliate forms, pellet border; all with a set of mounting lugs to the reverse. [4]
ProvenanceAcquired in the 1980s-1990s.
Ex an important central London gallery, London W1.
Cf. Murasheva, V.V., Old Russian belt ornaments, Moscow, 2000, pl.61, for similar types.
FootnotesDuring the medieval period, belts had a range of functions. They girdled the clothes and enabled suspension of small items such as knives, whetstones, purses and leather bags. The decoration of the belt depended on the social status of its owner: peasants wore woven and simple leather straps, whereas large feudal lords, prominent warriors, and princes wore golden belts, which were passed down through the generations.
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LOT 1115
Viking Rus Silver-Gilt Sword Belt End Group
Estimate £300 - 400€350 - 460 (for guidance only)$410 - 540 (for guidance only)
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Luristan Bronze Dagger
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Estimate: £300 - 400 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £160
Comprising a narrow double-edged blade, triangular in profile with raised midrib, rectangular guard with flanges, rectangular grip with lateral flanges to accept an organic grip, curved integral finial. 312 grams, 43 cm
Ex German collection, Cologne, 1980-1990s.
This weapon is typical of the cemeteries dating to the local Late Bronze Age (1300-1000 B.C.). The blade is still triangular but the crescentic pommel is reduced and flanged to be filled with organic material such as bone or wood. -
Medieval Iron Single-Handed Sword
Late 13th-early 14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,640
Of Oakeshott Type XII or XIII with a double-edged, well-balanced tapering blade, shallow fullers and a parallel-sided straight lower guard of cross style 2; medium tang and disc pommel of type K with chamfered sides; the blade with later inlaid markings, one side with Passau wolf, the other side with cross within a circle; cleaned and conserved. 1.39 kg, 95 cm
fine condition, restored.
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The sword’s blade presents analogies with a sword of type XIIIa (Aleksic, 2007, pl.7,1) sharing the same type of pommel and the same length of the fuller. The sword, found in the Danube near the village Visnjica, is now in the City Museum, Belgrad, and presents a cross and a wolf impressed on the blade and inlaid with a yellow metal. -
Post Roman Squama Armour
5th-9th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
Each scale B-shaped, slightly convex sides, two equally spaced circular holes along the straight edge. 55 grams total, 19-38 mm
The Kusmirek Collection, UK.
This object is not typical of 'squama' which usually has scales that are rectangular with one rounded end, and numerous attachment holes at the square end in pairs. However, it can be a type widespread in the post Roman age, with various specimens found in Britain (PAS SWYOR-CA6BBB, BM-95F434 and NCL-34BE90.
