Lot 44
Northern Europe, Viking/Norse culture, ca. 10th century CE. An incredible example of a heavy silver artifact from one of the pivotal moments in Viking history, the conversion from paganism to Christianity. A large cross, its face studded with five bosses and stamped with triangles around each of the bosses, hangs from a trichinopoly chain, connected to beast headed finials at the end of the chain by a series of three looped silver wires. The cross, the terminals, and the chain are each examples of the amazing silverwork done by Viking artisans. The triangular stamps, each containing three granulated dots, one at each corner, are a classic symbol of Viking metalwork, especially silver. The delicate braiding of the chain is incredible and there are no flaws in the weave. The terminals are made of sheet silver and are in two parts, with the upper part also stamped with triangles, and the lower part a mask-like face with an elongated snout - perhaps a wolf. Size of cross: 2.7" W x 2.6" H (6.9 cm x 6.6 cm); length of chain: approximately 25" (63.5 cm); 201.3 grams
A piece such as this would have been made in a specialized workshop centered around a hearth, probably using the lost wax casting technique. The important Viking metalworking shops correspond to their great trading ports and proto-urban centers - Birka, Helgo, Sigtuna, and Lund in Sweden, Ribe, Haithabu (Hedeby), and Fyrkat in Denmark, and Kaupang and Trondheim in Norway. 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 river beds. These are found in great quantities throughout the British Isles and the Nordic countries. A cross like this one may have been deposited in a hoard or buried in a grave.
Provenance: private New York collection
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.
#125345
- Condition: Surface encrustation. Slight bending to sheet silver at terminals.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Shipping
Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense
Artemis Fine Arts
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $25,000 |