Viking Period Sword with Gold Cross Guard. c.8th-10th century A.D. A sword with two-edged lentoid-section iron blade and gold covered boat-shaped cross guard, with later gold foil columnar grip and discoid pommel; mounted on a custom-made stand. 6.8 kg, 100 cm including stand (39 1/4 in.) Private collection, 1980s. Ex London gallery. With Pierre Bergé & Associés, Paris, 10 October 2017, lot 331 (28,000-32,000 euros) UK private collection. Accompanied by a report of metallurgic analytical results on the blade, written by Metallurgist Dr. Brian Gilmour of the Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, University of Oxford, report number 544 dated 3 January 2018. Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Pierre Bergé & Associés catalogue pages.

Fine condition.