9th-10th century AD. A substantial silver figure of a maiden warrior modelled in the round, hollow to receive the end of a shaft; depicted standing with large bulging oval-shaped eyes, slender nose, small ears and mouth, long hair parted at the centre and knotted at the back of the head, forming a suspension loop, continuing to flow to the ground; wearing a long pleated dress decorated with two cross ornaments and annulets to either side; holding a large round shield in her left hand, and a sword held upright in her right; the shield decorated with a triskele formed of three scrolls radiating from a two-tier boss in the centre, with a ring-and-dot between; the silver content includes 11.5% gold by X-ray fluorescence. See Vang Petersen, P., Valkyrier og Bersærker. Mytologien i Smykkekunsten, in Madsen, P.K. (ed.), Danefæ. Skatte fra den Danske Muld, Copenhagen, 2010; see Gardela, L., ‘Warrior-women’ in Viking Age Scandinavia, A preliminary archaeological study in Analecta Archaeologica Ressoviensia, vol.8, Rzeszów, 2013.41.1 grams, 44mm (1 3/4"). Property of a European collector; acquired in 2013; previously part of a Belgian collection; formerly in the collection of Herr Erhard Richter since 1937; before that with Jörg Weber; accompanied by the original 1937 invoice; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no. 10513-172106. This figure resembles a find from Galgebakke, Denmark, a similar silver figure holding a short sword and clutching a shield by the boss (Vang Petersen, item 4"). The Galgebakke figure is identified as female on the basis of the elaborate crested hairstyle, and an ankle-length dress with tiny feet beneath. The interpretation usually offered for this figure is that of a skjoldmø or 'shield-maiden', a female who takes up arms in pursuit of vengeance such as the legendary Hervor in Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks. Scholars used to interpret these armed females as valkyries - hand maidens of the god Oðinn - but the idea has been challenged recently (Gardela, 2013"). [A video of this lot is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.]