Open main menu
Last modified on 10 February 2013, at 20:13

Sword Scabbard Chapes

Revision as of 20:13, 10 February 2013 by Admin (Talk | contribs)

Sword Scabbard Chapes


Completion Rating
This article's completion rating is 1 out of 5. Article planned for future work. No real progress to date.
Completion Rating
This article's completion rating is 1 out of 5. Article planned for future work. No real progress to date.


Introduction

This article is about metal fittings that were probably attached to Sword Scabbards. I understand that Peter Paulsen comprehensibly covered the subject of Viking sword scabbard chapes in 1953 in his book Schwertortbänder der Wikingerzeit. Unfortunately we do not have access to this volume and so have created our own typology as detailed below.

English Styles

Ashwell.jpg

Art
--
Literature
--
Archaeology

  • England
    • Ashwell, Hertfordshire C9th. Tree of life design. [dayofarchaeology.com]
    • Castor, Peterborough [CAMERON 2000:p.194 fig.258]
    • Lincolnshire. Anglo-Scandinavian [HAMMOND 2010:p.80 fig.1.8.4-d]

Discussion
--

Borre Style 1

Bautzen chape.jpg

875-950AD
Odin as shape-shifting sorcerer and shaman. Protection. [HEDENSTIERNA-JONSON 2006b:p.321] A small group of sword chapes combining Borre style decoration with a possible Christian motif - the Crucifixion. Possibly originated in Denmark. [HEDENSTIERNA-JONSON 2006b:p.315]
Art
--
Literature
--
Archaeology

  • Russia, Ukrane. 2 finds. [ROESDAHL and WILSON 1992:cat.310] [WOV 2003:cat.4333]
  • Sweden, Birka
  • Gotland. found in 1889 [:AN1909.95]
  • Germany, Bautzen [ROESDAHL and WILSON 1992:cat.263]
  • Iceland, Lundur. 1 find, possibly from Gotland [ROESDAHL and WILSON 1992:cat.330]

Discussion
--

Borre Style 2

Humberside chape.jpg

9th/10th Century
Art
--
Literature
--
Archaeology

  • England, Hull [MILLS 2001:p101 fig.V281]
  • Iceland, Ljarskogar [HAYEUR SMITH 2003:p.354 no.5072]

Discussion
--

Borre Style 3

R516.jpg

Paulsen's 'Valleberga' type
Art
--
Literature
--
Archaeology

  • Denmark
    • Hareskovby, Sjaelland. Bronze. [WOV 2003:p.1118]
  • Norway
    • Norway. R516. [RYGH 1885:R516]
  • Iceland
    • Hafurbjarnarstodum, Iceland. [WOV 2003:p.7091] [HAYEUR SMITH 2003:p.168]
  • Sweden
    • Valleberga, Skane. Bronze. [WOV 2003:p.1170]

Discussion
--

File:Wolin Chape.jpg
100x150px

A variation on this type only seemingly found in Poland is Paulsen's type Ib2. Dated to 900-1025AD. [JANOWSKI 2006:p.181] [JANOWSKI 2007:p.157-159].


Jelling

Gjermundbu chape.jpg

More usually found around the Baltic area. [GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 1980: cat.273.]. 19 examples found in 6 different countries (Denmark, Germany, Iceland, England, Sweden & Russia) [CITE V2C?].
Art
--
Literature
--
Archaeology

  • England
    • York [ROESDAHL and WILSON 1992:cat.274]
  • Norway
    • Gjermundbu. Found with a Petersen type S sword [ROESDAHL and WILSON 1992] [WOV: cat.3044]
  • Iceland
    • Hafurbjarnastadir. Gilded copper-alloy found with Petersen type S sword. 900AD – 975AD [GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 1980:cat.273]
    • Kirkjubolsdal [HAYEUR SMITH 2003:p.167]
    • Vestfirdir [HAYEUR SMITH 2003:p.146]
  • Finland
    • Saari. Copper-alloy [GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 1980:cat.275]
    • Satakunta. [ROESDAHL and WILSON 1992:217]

Discussion
--

Bird (Falcon) style

L'lle de Groix Sword Scabbard Chape.jpg

Otherwise known as the 'Birka Bird'. Paulsen's type 'Scandinavian-Varangian'. Dated from late C9th to early C11th although at its most popular in the first half of the C10th. Hedenstierna Jonson identifies 67 finds spread mainly in Eastern Europe from Sweden to Byzantium [HEDENSTIERNA-JONSON 2006b:p.]
Art
--
Literature
--
Archaeology

  • France
  • Sweden
    • Astad. Eastern Influence 850AD – 950AD [GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 1980:cat.442]
    • Birka.
  • Poland
    • Wolin [WOV:cat.986]
  • Ukraine
    • Kiev [WOV:cat.4269]

Discussion
--

Eastern Styles

  • Rucavas Lejas Chape.jpg

    Janowski type V (Birds)

  • Myslecin Chape.jpg

    Janowski type Va

  • Dabrowa Chape.jpg

    Janowski type Vb

  • Gotland Chape.jpg

    Janowski type VI (Gotland - Tree of Life)


See Also

Swords Sword Scabbards

References

<nocite> CAMERON2000 GRAHAM-CAMPBELL1980 HAMMOND2010 HAYEUR2003 HEDENSTIERNA2006b JANOWSKI2006 JANOWSKI2007 MILLS2001 ROESDAHL1992 RYGH1885 WILSON1965 WOV2003 </nocite> <biblio force=false>#Template:Bib</biblio>