Description:

Northern Europe, Viking / Norse culture, ca. 800 to 1100 CE. A cast bronze component of a lock in the form of a standing horse with a stylized body indicative of Viking art. Small, incised concentric circles on the body form wards against the "evil eye", while part of the mechanism of the lock can be seen on the hollow and undecorated back. Keys and locks are found in graves and domestic spaces throughout the Viking world, with keys a much more numerous find than locks themselves (for example, in Gotland, there are currently 85 individual keys and only 2 locks documented). Keys and locks are much more commonly associated with women's graves, because women were the keepers of the household and the goods within. Size: 1.75" W x .625" H (4.4 cm x 1.6 cm); 3.5" H (8.9 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Orange County, California, USA collection

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#128528

  • Condition: Piece is a fragment of a full lock, in excellent condition, with a smooth, pale green patina.

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November 9, 2017 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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