Viking Silver Buckle with Moustachioed Face

CIRCA 8TH-9TH CENTURY A.D.

3 in. (35.13 grams, 75.36 mm).

With ovoid loop and integral buckle-plate, coiled wire tongue; loop with segmented frame, and bear-head motif to forward edge; plate with narrow neck developing to a male mask with broad flaring moustache, snub nose and lentoid eyes; fixing lugs to reverse. [No Reserve]

Provenance

From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.

Literature

Cf. Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, plate 86 (7, 8), for type.

CONDITION

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LOT 0344