Viking Period Tortoise Brooch and Chain Set
Circa 9th-10th century A.D. A bronze female garniture comprising: two tortoise brooches each with pin-bar and catch to the reverse, one with remains of fabric; two D-shaped openwork chatelaines with scroll detailing and loops to the lower edge; chains of varying length supporting utensils including a small hone or whetstone, a crotal bell, a firesteel formed as a steel arc in a bronze frame with horse-head finials, a cosmetic scoop, an equal-arm brooch, a second chatelain with chains and bell-shaped pendants, a model knife-sheath, a latch-lifter with pierced-disc finial, another crotal bell; the two groups linked by a longer chain of larger links. Cf. Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, plate 58, for tortoise-brooch types. 571 grams total, 8.2-33.5 cm (3 1/4 - 13 1/4 in.). Acquired 1971-1972.From the collection of the vendor's father.Property of a London, UK, collector. [3, No Reserve]