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Lot 1242

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Viking Iron Type L Sword

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Circa 10th century AD An iron sword with 75 cm long hand-forged iron blade, lentoid in section with a shallow central fuller, gently tapering to a rounded tip; the guard curved towards the blade, elliptical in plan and rectangular in section; the grip lost and the tang flat, tapering towards the upper end; the upper guard recurved and the three-lobe pommel rounded; on one face of the upper blade below the guard, a stamped cross potent with second cross-stroke to one arm. Cf. examples of Type L swords in the British Museum collection, published in Oakeshott, E. Swords of the Viking Age. p.76-81 575 grams, 88 cm overall (34 3/4") From an important West Country collection; a river find from Cornwall in the 1970's. Swords of this type have design features from both Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian traditions. The earliest examples, such as the one from Hurbuck, Country Durham, appear to be drawn directly from the Anglo-Saxon style of sword and some bear Trewhiddle Style decoration.

Very fine condition.

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