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.

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
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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
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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
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Literature
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Archaeology

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

Discussion
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Borre Style 2

9th/10th Century
Art
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Literature
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Archaeology

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

Discussion
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Borre Style 3

Paulsen's 'Valleberga' type
Art
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Literature
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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
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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

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
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Literature
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Archaeology

England
- York ^{[ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992]:cat.274}
- Chatburn ^{[EDWARDS 1998]:p.28}
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 & WILSON 1992]:217}

Discussion
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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 ^{[GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 1980]:cat.442}
- Birka.
Poland
- Wolin [WOV:cat.986]
Ukraine
- Kiev [WOV:cat.4269]

Discussion
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The travellingnorth.nl blog has a good article about this kind of chape.