Viking Sword of Petersen Type M And Wheeler Type I

[Jack Loomes]

9th/10th Century

In excavated condition, with broad pattern-welded double-edged blade with shallow central fuller over nearly its entire length on each side, hilt comprising short flat ovoidal cross-guard, flat tapering tang, and shorter pommel en suite with the guard surmounted by a rectangular button on a rectangular washer.

74.8 cm. blade, 86.5 cm. overall

Provenance: Found in the River Seine near the Isle de la Cité

Acquired from Robert-Jean Charles, Paris, 1952

Literature: Hoffmeyer, cat. no. 24, pp. 35, 67 and 69, figs. 7 and 12

See J. Petersen, De Norske Vikingesverd, 1919; R.E. Mortimer Wheeler, London and The Vikings, London Museum Catalogue: No. 1, 1927, pp. 31-32, fig. 13, I; and for very similar examples see Ian Peirce, Swords Of The Viking Age, 2002, pp. 84-86.

Source: www.bonhams.com/auctions/19796/lot/51/

To see the Wheeler Typology click here: www.sword-site.com/thread/854/wheeler-typology-viking-sword-hilts

To see the Petersen Typology click here: sword-site.com/thread/845/petersens-classification-typology-viking-swords