10th-12th century AD. A double-edged Viking or Norman sword of Petersen Type X, well-defined cutting edges and fullers to the blade with traces of pattern-welding and battle nicks; wide lower guard of Oakeshott Style 1, tapering tang and tea-cosy pommel. See Petersen, J., De Norske Vikingsverd, Oslo, 1919; Oakeshott, E., Records of the Medieval Sword, Woodbridge, 1991; Oakeshott, E., The Sword in the Age of the Chivalry, Woodbridge, 1964 (1994); Gravett, C., Medieval Norman Knight, 950-1204 AD, London, 1993; Peirce, I., Swords of the Viking Age, Suffolk, 2002; a very similar sword with a similar hilt, was found in Hagerbakken (Petersen, 1919, fig.124); another parallel is a sword from Tissø, Denmark, today in the National Museum in Copenhagen, a water find; other two excellent specimens of this typology can be seen at the Musée de L'Armée, Paris (Peirce, 2002, pp.118-121); further similar examples are visible in the Tower of London and in the Historisches Museum of Berne (inventory no.840.5, see Oakeshott, 1964, p.95"). 900 grams, 89.5cm (35 1/4"). From the family collection of a UK gentleman, by descent in the early 1970s; previously acquired before 1960; accompanied by an academic report by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato and a positive metal test from an Oxford specialist; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.10892-181350. The sword is of Petersen type X of (Petersen, 1919, pp.158ff) and finds good parallels in various similar Viking age specimens. The B type pommel is indicative of the category. According to Petersen, these kind of swords spanned over an extensive temporal period, from the first half of the 10th century until the middle 11th century AD, but we know now that individual swords of type X are considered among the latest of the swords from the Viking age, and were in use in the 11th and 12th centuries. They are represented in the hands of the Norman knights of the Bayeux Tapestry, where even Duke William is armed with such a sword with a tea cosy pommel. Condition Report Fine condition.