Loading, please wait...
Details
LOT 1468
Viking Silver-Gilt Pendant with Odin Gripping Two Ravens
9TH-10TH CENTURY A.D.
1 in. (3.58 grams, 24 mm).
Integral loop, border enclosing a low-relief image of a male facing mask between two birds embraced at the necks. [No Reserve]
Provenance
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.
Literature
Cf. Hammond, B. M., British Artefacts Volume 2 - Middle Saxon and Viking, p.57, item 1.5.3-f.; and Korshyn, V.E., Yazcheskye Priveski Drevnei Rusi X-XIV Vekov, Moscow, 2013, item M.2.02.
Footnotes
The iconography of the pendant is evidently based on the mythological representation of Odin, whose ravens, Huginn and Muninn, were his spirit companions and confidents. Huginn and Muninn travelled around the world bringing news and information to their master. Odin sent them out at dawn to gather information and they returned in the evening, sitting on the god's shoulders and whispering the news into his ears. It is from these ravens that the raven-god kenning representing Odin was derived.
CONDITIONVETTING:
TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
LOT 1468
Viking Silver-Gilt Pendant with Odin Gripping Two Ravens
Sold for (Inc. bp): £494
RELATED LOTS
-
Viking Age Silver Filigree Starburst Boss Pendant
11th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £572
Displaying ropework and granular borders, integral loop with granular decoration, central pellet and radiating triangles in a sun or star motif; style originating in the Baltic or Slavic area, possibly the historical Rus region. 3.05 grams, 24 mm
Acquired in the 1990s. Ex property of a German collector. -
Viking Silver Urnes Style Rattle Pendant
9th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,600
Formed from a hollow vesica-shaped silver mount which rattles when shaken, probably a horse-harness fitting; with Urnes style interlaced dragons in low relief surrounding a facing bearded mask with large staring eyes (Thor?). 67 grams, 73 mm
Formerly acquired on the German art market in the early 1980s. Previously in a European collection in the 1990s. From an important central London collection. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by searcher certificate no. 200377.
The last phase of Viking art is the Urnes style from about 1050-1150. The Urnes style has gracefully curved lines of different width - swelling, tapering - but always in a curve. The tendril clusters from the Ringerike style are abandoned. The Urnes style developed shortly before the middle of the 11th century. -
Viking Age Gold Scutiform Pendant
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £624
Composed of a flat-section discoid body, pierced lobe for suspension, central pellet, four smaller pellets around and band to the border, eight lozenge stamps each with four pellets. 1.94 grams, 23 mm
Private UK collection before 2014.
