Viking Hoard - Iron Sword, Bit, Spear, Axe, & Chisel

About Auction

Live

Fine Antiquities / Asian / Ethnographic Art

By Artemis Gallery

Aug 30, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-08-30 10:00:00 2018-08-30 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities / Asian / Ethnographic Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-art-3402
Featuring classical antiquities, Asian, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe, plus fine art. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

View Full Catalog (396)

• Lot Description
  Northern Europe, Viking culture, ca. early 10th century CE. An incredible hoard of five iron artifacts: a large, Petersen Type X sword, a horse bit, an axe, a chisel, and a socketed spearhead. The horse bit is composed of two thick iron wires looped around each other on one end and around two iron rings on the other. The axe and chisel are both of simple form, the kind of tools that any Viking would be happy to keep on a belt. The spearhead has a tapering, cylindrical socket and a broad, leaf-shaped blade with a thin, sharply-delineated ridge. The sword has a rounded, half-moon-shaped pommel with rounded corners. The lower guard is a separate piece that can move around the tang, although when used it would have been held in place by the bone, wood, or leather that formed the handle. The blade is long and straight, sharp on both edges, and ends in an abruptly tapered point. Swords of this type have been found throughout the Viking world, from Eastern Europe to the British Isles to Iceland. Size of sword: 4.85" W x 37.25" H (12.3 cm x 94.6 cm)
  
  A Viking's sword was a hugely valuable object, passed down through families as an heirloom, and probably the most expensive item that a Viking could own. For example, from the hundreds of items found in Viking burials in Iceland, only sixteen are swords; they are more common in other parts of the Viking world, especially in Norway, but were still a high-status item. A sword given by King Haakon the Good (king of Norway from 934 to 961 CE) to the Icelander Hoskuldur in the Laxdaela Saga was worth a half mark of gold, or the value of sixteen dairy cows, which was a tremendous sum for the time.
  
  Together, these items constituted a Viking hoard. They were treasured items for someone, left behind in antiquity - whether as votive deposits, or, more likely, with the intention of returning to acquire them at a later date. Who knows what may have happened to that original hoarder, who was indefinitely waylaid by some circumstance of life a thousand years ago?
  
  Provenance: ex-Green collection, acquired in the UK
  
  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.
  
  #135023

  Condition

  All are in nice condition with clear forms. Surfaces have been stabilized to prevent further corrosion. Oxidized patina, in some areas heavy or encrusted, especially on the spearhead. Some chips from blade edges, especially on the axe head and along the length of the sword blade. Nice movement of bit components and the sword guard.
• Shipping Info

  • All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.

• Buyer's Premium
  • 26.50 %