Circa 10th century A.D. A gilt-bronze Alanian or Saltovo culture horse harness assemblage with Scandinavian decoration comprising: 12 piriform plaques each with a central cell; 11 smaller rectangular plaques; a chamfron or bridle cap with running interlace decoration to the rim, reserved images of human and animal figures, central plume-holder; a quantity of smaller fittings. Cf. Petru-Mircea, I., ?Spar av vikingatid i Rumanien?, in Pilz, E., Bysans och Norden. Akta for Nordiska forskarkursen i bysantinsk konstvetenskap, 1986, Stockholm, 1989, pp.191-202; Gorelik, M., ?Arms and Armour in South-Eastern Europe in the Second Half of the First Millennium AD? in Nicolle, D., Companion to Medieval Arms and Armour, Woodbridge, 2002, pp.127-148. 468 grams total, 11-113 mm (1/2 - 4 1/2 in.). Private European collection, 1980s. Central London collection, Westminster, UK. Accompanied by a detailed report by Anglo-Saxon and Viking specialist Stephen Pollington and military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.10920-181154. The decoration of the cap indicates that the items were possibly commissioned by a chieftain with Scandinavian taste, although the workmanship is mainly eastern European. There is strong evidence of burning, indicating that the items were deposited after cremation. [74, No Reserve]