Viking axe with christian cross? Pictures.

[Esotec]

A few more pics.
Size is ca 14cm x 9cm.

[Battara]

I'm moving this over to the European section.

[Radboud]

Interesting object, what's it made of? In the photo it looks like bronze, but that could just be the light.

As for the cross... it could just be a geometric pattern or a cross that isn't related to Christianity. Of course the Viking society gradually converted to Christianity during the 10th and 11th Centuries so a cross wouldn't be out of place later in the Viking Era.

Who's the auction house, we need to be careful. Some, like Timeline auctions have a reputation for peddling fakes.

[Esotec]

Originally Posted by Radboud

Interesting object, what's it made of? In the photo it looks like bronze, but that could just be the light.

As for the cross... it could just be a geometric pattern or a cross that isn't related to Christianity. Of course the Viking society gradually converted to Christianity during the 10th and 11th Centuries so a cross wouldn't be out of place later in the Viking Era.

Who's the auction house, we need to be careful. Some, like Timeline auctions have a reputation for peddling fakes.

Its made of iron.
I bought it from a well known Swedish auction house. And the provenance was very good. One of the reasons I bought it.
I can see now that the color is abit of in the pics. Maybe due to the background.

[fernando]

Esotec, who told you this axe is Viking ? Was it the auction house ?

[Esotec]

Originally Posted by fernando

Esotec, who told you this axe is Viking ? Was it the auction house ?

The auction house described the object as
"Beard axe, Viking age, ca 750-950".

[toaster5sqn]

My biggest concern would be the lack of any laminations showing in the corrosion as the most common manufacturing method for Viking axes was a softer iron body with a forge welded steel edge. This appears to be a homogenous piece of steel with no forging marks.

Robert