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Lot 132

A Rare Viking Sword Of Petersen Type H And Wheeler Type II With Ulfberht Inscription
9th/10th Century

17 May 2017, 13:00 BST
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £13,750 inc. premium

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A Rare Viking Sword Of Petersen Type H And Wheeler Type II With Ulfberht Inscription
9th/10th Century

In excavated condition, with broad double-edged blade with wide shallow central fuller over nearly its entire length to the rounded point, the fuller on one side at the forte cut with indistinct inscription '+ULFBERHT', and on the other with an omega-like device and three vertical bars, hilt comprising thick ovoidal cross-piece, flat very slightly tapering tang, and two-piece conical pommel of 'tea-cosy' form secured by two rivets visible from beneath
74.9 cm. blade, 92.4 cm. overall

Footnotes

For a related sword in the Soumen kansallismuse, Helsinki (NM18402:1), see Ian Peirce, Swords Of The Viking Age, 2002, pp. 54-55, and p. 95 for a sword in the British Museum (1864, 1-273) with very similar inscription and blade markings

Vikings swords with Ulfberht inscriptions have been found across Europe, Scandinavia, Britain and Russia. It is thought that the name is either that of a long-lived family manufactory or a group of closely associated workshops, the possible origin being Frankland, in the area of modern Solingen. One hundred and twenty-two examples were identified by Alfred Geibig in his highly detailed survey published in 1991

For a synopsis of Geibig's work and a further analytical study of the subject see Michael R. Gorman, 'Ulfbreht: Innovation and Imitation in Early Medieval Swords', The Sixteenth Park Lane Arms Fair Guide, February 1999, pp. 7-12

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