VIKING IRON KNIFE WITH DRAGON HANDLE

C. 900 AD. Viking age. Medieval Scandinavian, pointed knife; expertly cleaned and conserved with hand-carved, reconstructed bone handle depicting a dragon. Knives were a vital part of everyday life in the Viking world, where forks were not used, and everyone had to carry their own knife, both for self defense and for eating. The item is extremely well preserved and has been professionally cleaned; it comes on a custom-made stand. Please note that the handle is is a modern reconstruction based on medieval originals. Size: L:345mm; 234g. Provenance: From the private collection of an Essex gentleman; previously in an old British Collection, formed in the 1980s on the UK / European art markets.