Silver, 5.54 grams; 23.78 mm. Circa 10th -11th century AD. Heart shaped with six small bosses on the perimeter, surmounted by a decorated loop secured with a rivet. The main design depicts the Viking god Odin, blind in the left eye, upturned mouth with tongue protruding. On the reverse there are two additional rivets that seem to serve no obvious purpose. Extremely fine condition. Ex old European collection.

Copper alloy, 170 grams; 715 mm. Brooches 61.58 mm & 61.18 mm. Circa 9th-10th century AD. A beautiful brooch set consisting of two very elaborate heavily tinned plate brooches with spiral-ended chain holders secured by small rings just below the pin. The two length of chain that hang down from the chain holders are made from double round section links, the two sections are of different length to allow one to hang lower than the other. Ref: for similar brooch sets see, Luistari – A History of Weapons and Ornaments grave 1260. A rarely seen complete group in good very fine condition, complete with both pins intact. Ex European collection.

Silver, 6.81 grams; 26.85 mm, internal 16.90 mm. Circa 9 - 10th century AD. A stunning Viking ring formed from four plaited pieces of silver bar, the end is hammered into tapering terminals. These Viking 'twining' or 'twisting' knots probably represent the interconnectedness of all Viking life. Another interpretation is that these devices are to bind negativity, in that it becomes bound up in the knot and cannot escape. For Vikings, ancient Viking patterns represent the interweaving of their lives and futures represented in the Viking universe. Extremely fine condition. Ex D. Hurst collection. An elemental analysis certificate from Oxford X-ray Fluorescence Ltd is included in the sale: 68.7 % silver; 1.3% gold; 27.1% copper; 0.01% lead; iron 2.8%, which is consistent with XRF analysis of Viking Age silver ingots by Susan E Kruse & James Tate [1992].

Copper alloy, 115 grams; 172.98 mm. Circa 9th century AD. A large neck torc made up from two strips of bronze coiled around a central core. The ends terminate in a loop at one end and a single piece of round sectioned bronze at the other. Ref: Luistari – A History of Weapons and Ornaments; grave 765, page 82. Extremely fine. Ex old European collection.

Copper alloy, 1.6 Kg, 192.60 mm. Circa 10th century AD. An excessively rare neck torc consisting of seven graduated coils of thick rope style twisted bronze. The outer band terminates with a loop and the inner band a straight point, both ends line up at the front of the torc which could suggest the two ends were made to be joined. Most torcs of this period have either a single or double coil as can be seen in, Luistari- A History of Weapons and Ornaments. Ref: Fig 66. Grave 765; page 211. A stunning and rare piece with dark green patination in very fine condition.

Copper alloy, 5.71 grams; 26.74 mm. Internal 19.00 mm; UK size S; US size 9.5. Circa 10th century AD. Made from a single piece of square sectioned bronze twisted to form the central design, the tails have then been beaten out to taper and overlap to form the shank. These Viking 'twining' or 'twisting' knots probably represent the interconnectedness of all Viking life. Another interpretation is that these devices are to bind negativity, in that it becomes bound up in the knot and cannot escape. For Vikings, ancient Viking patterns represent the interweaving of their lives and futures represented in the Viking universe. Extremely fine condition. Ex European collection

Copper alloy, 5.93 grams; 23.90 mm. Internal 19.00 mm; UK size S; US size 9.5. Circa 9th-10th century AD. A stunning and very well preserved shield type spiral ring of group II:1a; single piece of bronze beaten out in the middle to form a flat wide band with a central rope style rib (this forms the shield) and two long ribbed tails that curl round and terminate under the shield section at the base of the shank. Each tail has plain tapered sections that resemble snakes tails. Ref: Luistari – A History of Weapons and Ornaments; plate 40, G 845-item 3. A rare and beautiful ring with a smooth deep green patination, and in good extremely fine condition. Ex European collection.

Copper alloy, 7.66 grams; 25.88 mm. Internal 20.00 mm; UK size V; US size 11. Circa 10th century AD. A nice plain square sectioned ring with wide solid bezel and overlapping tails that tapper to a point. A nice piece in very fine condition. Ex European collection.

Copper alloy, 4.98 grams; 23.68 mm. Internal 17.68 mm; UK size O; US size 7.5. Circa 10th century AD. An unusual ring detailed with ribs across the elliptical shaped bezel that alternate from plain to serrated. The shank of the ring is made up from the two overlapping tails that tapper away from the bezel. A rare piece in very fine condition. Ex European collection.

Copper alloy, 6.85 grams; 31.06 mm. Internal 18.98 mm; US size 9.5, UK size S. Circa 10th century AD. A rare flat cast ring in the style of the usually more intricate knot and twist rings; the cast has been made to stylise the design in its simplest form, probably a cheaper alternative to the composite rings. Some ancient deposits, otherwise very fine condition. Ex European collection.

Silver, 1.72 grams; 21.51 mm. Internal 16.50 mm; US size 6.5, UK size M. Circa 10th century AD. A single square sectioned band with the tails over lapping and curled round the opposite end three times, this acts as the security and decoration of the ring. Ref: Similar to Viking & Saxon Artefacts by Nigel Mills; page 75. Rare and in extremely fine condition. Ex old English collection.

Silver, 6.24 grams; 112.47 mm, 4.42 inches. Circa. 10th-11th century AD. An excellent long pin in good silver; complete tapering shaft with thick neck that connects to the helmet shaped terminal. The pin head terminal is decorated with a line and punched dots around the side splitting the design into two sections, the lower section is plain and the upper is detailed with rows of small punched dots. Ex old English collection.

Gold, 23.62 grams; 77.06 mm. Circa 10th Century A.D. A large and heavy solid gold hammered bracelet with a rectangular cross-section, twisted before the flatten terminals. The hammered design indicates that this item was probably similar to 'Belt Money', in that a large amount of gold bullion [portable wealth] was made into a wearable object that was difficult to lose. Unlike coinage or 'hack' it could be easily transported without the worry of accidental loss. This huge weight is equivalent to five and a half 'Mancus' of 30 pence. A very large amount of money considering a skilled worker would have been paid around one silver penny a day. Extremely Fine condition and Excessively Rare. Found bent into two halves on a Saxon & Viking settlement site near Spofforth, North Yorkshire in 2004. Studied by the British Museum for six months. Released by the 'Crown' as Treasure on 4th October 2004 [2004/T169-4051]. Letters from the DCMS, Her Majesty's Coroner and the British Museum included in the sale.

Silver, 3.47 grams; 51.47 mm. Circa 9th - 11th Century A.D. The size indicates it is from the wrist of a woman, and is of a high quality manufacture. The terminals have been formed by beating the twisted wires into square sections, typical of some high quality Viking jewellery of this period. One terminal re-attached, otherwise Extremely Fine condition and Excessively Rare. From an old collection, not found in UK.

Copper alloy, 240 grams, 231.95 mm. Circa 9th - 11th Century A.D. An extremely good example of a Viking neck torque. A circular shape which expands at the bottom where a separate plate is riveted. There are numerous perforations which house a small ring suspending a long cylindrical pendant decorated with raised lines. The band tapers at each terminal to form a sharp hooked point, the hooks would have locked around each other to keep it safely around the neck. This would have been too awkward to wear at all times so would have only been used in religious ceremonies, such as the Viking boat cremation. Judging by the ornate work, this would have been worn by the high status chieftain leading the ceremony. Very Fine condition and Excessively Rare.

Enamelled copper alloy, 6.46 grams, 91.42 grams. Circa 9th – 11th Century A.D. A slender pin which taper to the point, the head ring is a ‘donut’ type, on the reverse is the remaining cloisonné work of yellow and white enamel. Very Fine condition.

Copper alloy, 15.38 grams, 79.13 mm. 9th Century A.D. Certainly unique, a Viking linked bracelet with a clasp made from an Anglo Saxon long brooch. Pillaged from the Anglo Saxon during the Viking raids. Vikings often 're-used' Saxon metals imbedding them in weights and jewellery etc. as a memento. Very Fine.