Sword Scabbard Chapes

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

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

Viking Age Compendium articles on Swords:

Wargear

Swords Overview

Swords found in Britain

Sword Scabbards

Sword Scabbard Chapes

Sword Peace Bands

Viking Age Compendium articles on Swords:

Wargear

Swords Overview

Swords found in Britain

Sword Scabbards

Sword Scabbard Chapes

Sword Peace Bands

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

Art -- Literature -- Archaeology England Ashwell, Hertfordshire C9th. Tree of life design. [dayofarchaeology.com] Castor, Peterborough Lincolnshire. Anglo-Scandinavian Discussion --

Borre Style 1

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. Sweden, Birka Gotland. found in 1889 [:AN1909.95] Germany, Bautzen Iceland, Lundur. 1 find, possibly from Gotland Discussion --

Borre Style 2

9th/10th Century Art -- Literature -- Archaeology England, Hull Iceland, Ljarskogar [HAYEUR SMITH 2003:p.354 no.5072] Discussion --

Borre Style 3

	Paulsen's 'Valleberga' type Art -- Literature -- Archaeology Denmark Hareskovby, Sjaelland. Bronze. Norway Norway. R516. [RYGH 1885:R516] Iceland Hafurbjarnarstodum, Iceland. [HAYEUR SMITH 2003:p.168] Sweden Valleberga, Skane. Bronze. 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. .

Jelling

More usually found around the Baltic area. . 19 examples found in 6 different countries (Denmark, Germany, Iceland, England, Sweden & Russia) [CITE V2C?]. Art -- Literature -- Archaeology England York Chatburn 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 Kirkjubolsdal [HAYEUR SMITH 2003:p.167] Vestfirdir [HAYEUR SMITH 2003:p.146] Finland Saari. Copper-alloy Satakunta. Discussion --

Bird (Falcon) style

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 L'Ile de Groix. Sweden Astad. Eastern Influence 850AD – 950AD Birka. Poland Wolin [WOV:cat.986] Ukraine Kiev [WOV:cat.4269] Discussion -- The travellingnorth.nl blog has a good article about this kind of chape.

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

Cameron, Esther A. (2000) Sheaths and Scabbards in England AD400-1100. British Archaeological Reports: BAR 301 *

Edwards, B.J.N. (1998) Vikings in North West England. The Artifacts. *

Graham-Campbell, James (ed.) (1980) Viking Artefacts, A Select Catalogue. British Museum Publications *

Hammond, Brett (2010) British Artefacts, Volume 2 - Middle Saxon & Viking. Greenlight Publishing. *

^{[HAYEUR 2003]} *

^{[HEDENSTIERNA 2006B]} *

Janowski, Andrzej (2006) 'GOTLANDZKI TRZEWIK POCHWY MIECZA Z PRZEDSTAWIENIEM DRZEWA ZYCIA ZE SZCZECIÑSKIEGO PODZAMCZA' [Gotland sword chapes with representations of the Tree of Life]. *

Janowski, Andrzej (2007) 'Wczesnośredniowieczne okucia pochew mieczy tzw' [Early medieval sword scabbard fittings]. Trzewiki. *

Mills, Nigel (2001) Saxon & Viking Artifacts. Greenlight Publishing. *

Roesdahl, Else, and Wilson, David M. (eds.) (1992) From Viking to Crusader, The Scandinavians and Europe 800-1200. Nordic Council of Ministers. *

Wilson, David M. (1965) Some neglected late Anglo-Saxon swords. Medieval Archaeology: Vol.9 ^{[WILSON 1965]} *

Council of Europe (2003) World of the Vikings. CD-ROM. Alive Learning Ltd. *