Lot 1043

Description

Iron axe with a short, blunt neck. The tang flanges are notched at the top and taper to a point at the bottom, enclosing an oval tang hole with a groove at the front. The blade runs almost horizontally at the top, with a slightly curved cutting edge that tapers slightly towards the bottom. The lower edge is correspondingly curved. The sides of the axe, with the exception of the final 2.5 cm before the cutting edge, are decorated over their entire surface with a complex and elaborate silver inlay. On either side of the cutting edge, within a trapezoidal field, there is a repeatedly coiled animal with a slender, ribbon-like body, whose torso and limbs are intertwined in a braided pattern. The edges are set off by a recessed line, with the joints marked by dots. The head has a 'parrot-beak'-shaped snout. The serrated upper edge of the mouth gap suggests sharp teeth. The eyes and ears are clearly recognisable. Although similar in design, the execution of the animal on both sides differs in detail. The animals are framed at the edge by a line with circular eyes at the corners and running along the outer edge. The neck, hilt flanges and the foremost part of the blade are decorated with braided bands formed by lines intertwined at right angles, separated by vertical rows of circular dots. The hilt flanges are still largely covered with corrosion products. The decoration is generally very clearly visible and has been largely, yet discreetly, cleared of oxide deposits and incrustations without damaging the axe's structure. The iron is in excellent condition, with no deep corrosion marks. A magnificent example of a Viking battle axe featuring a characteristic animal motif in the Jelling style, of exquisite quality. CULTURAL ASSET!

Provenance: South German private collection, inherited from the consignor's father in the late 1990s.

Condition: I - II Questions about the lot?