Description
Heading : Celtic / Viking jewellery – Silver axe pendant 1st-11th century
Material: Silver
Period: Iron age Celts/Viking age
Date: 1st to 11th century AD
Origin: Western Europe including Britain
Condition: VF+
Description: A small silver axe shaped pendant with + and O punch decoration to one face; the suspension loop is intact and attached to a silver wire loop with the ends wound round the shank.
Size and Weight: 22mm without the loop, 35mm with, 1.61g
Features and Provenance: Ex TimeLine auctions, previously from a UK collection acquired from the German art market in 2000.
The tribes of Iron Age peoples, collectively known as the Celts, ranged from Britain to Eastern Europe. Metalworking skills were probably developed independently from the Roman influence, but there is no doubt that an intermixing of races and cultures would have extended their skills and they are now know for some exquisite precious metal jewellery. Pendants and fitments for harnesses and clothing were usually of base metals, but the higher the status the better the metal. The axe was a item of strength and was probably worn as a talisman for a battle-worn warrior and they are very similar to those produced and worn by the Viking traders. This design of talisman obviously had staying power.
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