11th century AD. A bronze scabbard chape with scooped upper edges and openwork decoration; the apex of each scooped edge formed as a beast-head in plan with pellets for the eyes and muzzle, facing figure with bear-mask and hair extending in multilinear loops, body similarly formed with interlaced limbs. Cf. Murasheva, V.V. Gnezdovo, Rezultati kompleksnikh issledovaniy pamiatnika, St. Petersburg, 2007, fig. 9, items 1, 2; Paulsen, P., Schwertortbänder der Wikingerzeit, Stuttgart, 1953, fig. 48-55.31.1 grams, 66mm (2 1/2"). Property of a professional collector; acquired before 1990.[No Reserve]