10th C. Viking Silver Brooch w/ Filigree & Shape Stamps

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Exceptional Antiquities | Asian | Ethnographi...

By Artemis Gallery

Jun 10, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-06-10 10:00:00 2021-06-10 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities | Asian | Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-7012
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• Lot Description
  Northern Europe, Scandinavia, Viking or Norse culture, ca. 10th century CE. A gorgeous and wearable brooch pendant of a discoid, shield-like form made from 93.24% silver. The hemispherical pendant features a thick, in-folded rim, an impressed exterior register of triangular patterns, and groupings of petite dots along the shoulder. An incredible central decoration features over a dozen curvilinear filigree strands that their inner-most terminals coalescing around a central protruding boss. Within the concave verso is a hinged pin and catch that still articulates with astounding smoothness even for being over 1,000 years old. A stunning example of exemplary Viking artistry! Size: 2.25" W x 2.2" H (5.7 cm x 5.6 cm); quality of silver: 93.24%; total weight: 58.7 grams
  
  An incredible piece of wearable artwork and displayed wealth, which in the volatile Viking period was often in the form of jewelry made from precious metals, this would have belonged to one of the highest members of society. Silver was the principal currency of the Viking world, which stretched from Russia to northern Canada at the height of their influence. In many places, the Vikings kept silver not as coins, but as jewelry, a wearable currency form that was not subject to the authority of a monarch or mint. One of the most common archaeological finds from the Viking period is a hoard of metal objects, often buried in the earth or deposited in bodies of water, like riverbeds. These are found in great quantities throughout the British Isles and the Nordic countries.
  
  This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world’s largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.
  
  Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private Kaliningrad (Koenigsberg) and then Latvia collection; found on the Baltic Sea coast prior to 1982
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #164128

  Condition

  Surfaces have been professionally cleaned with several hairline abrasions visible across obverse and verso. One small perforation along one interior area. Slight bending to overall form of brooch, pin, and catch, with minor softening to and light encrustations within some stamped geometric motifs and filigree detailing, and small nicks to peripheral areas, otherwise intact and excellent. Great preservation to geometric motifs and filigree as well as fantastic patina throughout. Wearable with still-functioning pin and catch.
• Shipping Info

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