Lot of 12 Viking Iron Farming Tools

Northern Europe, Scandinavia, Viking or Norse culture, ca. 8th to 11th century CE. A wonderful ensemble of 12 forged-iron utilitarian farming tools of varying sizes, shapes, and functions. First are 3 sickles bearing curved blades, 2 of which have slender tangs, and the largest has a conical socketing shaft. Next is a gently corseted chisel with a slender tang. A pair of axes have thick bodies and vertically oriented socketing shafts, perhaps used for chopping and shaping wood or mud bricks. A pair of spades each have rounded triangular heads and thick tangs with bent terminals, and a third spade head bears a broad, ovoid hafting shaft. Two petite cutting blades exhibit gently curved forms and narrow tangs. Last is an ovoid bar horseshoe with 8 lateral perforations, a large central perforation, and a slightly flared frontal lip. Size of largest (socketed sickle): 9.5" W x 18.875" H (24.1 cm x 47.9 cm)

Provenance: ex-Phoenicia Holyland Antiquities, New York, New York, USA, acquired before 2010

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

#163491
Condition Report: All pieces have pitting, slight bending to overall forms, and oxidation, with tip of one smaller sickle nearly separated from majority of blade, otherwise intact and very good. Nice iron patina throughout.