Mid 10th-mid 12th century A.D. A double-edged iron sword with well-defined cutting edges and tapering profile; parallel-sided lower guard and short tang; 'tea-cosy' pommel of transitional type to a 'Brazil nut' style (type B); battle signs and employment nicks visible on the sides. See Petersen, J., De Norske Vikingsverd, Oslo, 1919; Oakeshott, E., The Sword in the Age of the Chivalry, London, 1964 (1994); Oakeshott, E., Records of the Medieval Sword, Woodbridge, 1991; Peirce, I., Swords of the Viking Age, Suffolk, 2002; a very similar example in the Glasgow Museum, once in the D'Acre Edwards and Oakeshott collections, an excellent ‘Gaddhjalt’ (spike-hilt) example, datable to the Viking period, circa 950 A.D. 1.06 kg, 89 cm (35 in.). Acquired 1971-1972. From the collection of the vendor's father. Property of a London, UK, collector. Apanied by an academic expertise by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is apanied by AIAD certificate no.11398-192364. The sword, produced probably in the workshops of the Holy Roman Empire, finds good parallels with various sword published by Peirce (2002, cat. NM2033.1, pp.122-123; NM 11840, pp.132-133). The typology was in use from the 11th to the 14th century by late period Vikings, Normans, and from the Milites of the western Potentates.