Viking Bronze Decorated Horse Bridle Cheekpiece Fragment, c11th Century

Description

Heading: Viking Bronze – a Viking horse bridle cheekpiece fragm

Material: Bronze cast artefact

Period: Late Viking/ early medieval

Date: 11th century

Origin: From a British collection

Condition: Fine. but a fragment

Description: Cast Viking bronze – Viking  horse bridle in Ringerike style cheekpiece. incised decoration with zoomorphic influences. this great piece of history is from the right side of a bridle.

Size and Weight: 43mm. 24.46g

Features and Provenance: Ex Hanson’s sale. previously a British private collection

Although the Northmen were known for their sailing prowess. they were also accomplished horseman. Their steeds were often covered in as many pendants and charms as the warriors themselves and the use of zoomorphic design was common on the bridle as well as other areas of the horses tack.

The Vikings were great traders; they are often maligned as nothing more than Scandinavian thugs. but nothing could be further from the truth. The range of their trade-goods was extensive. Norsemen never referred to themselves as Vikings as it was an old Norse word meaning ‘adventure and trade’ this ensued from their ‘vanderlyst’. Viking did however. enter English lexicons in the 18th century. but even then it was only meant to refer to ‘a Scandinavian.’

Condition Summary. This varies with the age of the artefact and there are grades between

Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear. all parts of pattern etc present. visible and clear

Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of pattern etc present. but may be worn

Fine (F). Wear on the artefact and parts of item and pattern etc may be missing or not visible