Pre-Viking Iron Slave Chain Shackle
6th-7th century A.D. Comprising thirty-eight 8-shaped iron links, with interstitial H-shaped twisted elements; securing ring at the upper end; iron ring at the lower end with thick linked ring and two substantial shackles, each a pair of parallel bars with a loop at each end; attached to each a flat rectangular-section fetter with substantial retaining rivet. Cf. iron collar from John’s Lane, Dublin, now in the National Museum of Ireland.4.45 kg, 2.57 m long (101 in.). Acquired 1971-1972. From the collection of the vendor's father. Property of a London, UK, collector. The shackles are formed with an elliptical void in order to accommodate a human foot, closed with an iron rivet which could not have been easily removed without heating the metal. [No Reserve]