Summary

Viking sword hilt of bronze inlaid with silver, from Eigg, 9th century

Accession Number

X.IL 157

Other references

Original description

VIKING PERIOD. Sword hilt of bronze, 7 1/2" long, plaited & inlaid with silver. Eigg. KJD notes, Registration date reads '1878, 1882'. MOSAICS note, April 1997: This is the finest Viking sword hilt ever found in Scotland. It is from a double-edged broad sword and was discovered on Eigg in 1830 by a local farmer whilst levelling a mound. The mound is thought to have contained a pagan burial. Other scraps of metal - some probably pieces of blade - were found around the same time as the sword hilt. These, however, do not survive. The hilt is highly decorated. The pommel, grip and guards are all ornamented with geometric and animal designs. The surfaces are gilded and inlaid with silver thread and small silver pieces. Although it was probably made in the 9th century, such weapons would have been highly prized and this one may not have been buried on Eigg until many years later. Materials: Brass, silver, gilt, niello. 9th century. Updated from SCRAN full data set, December 1998.

Associated person/people (e.g. excavator/former collection)

None

Discovery / field collection

Date of discovery

Not recorded

Method (e.g. excavation)

Not recorded

Place (i.e. location of discovery)

Eigg, Inverness-shire, Scotland, Northern Europe

Acquisition

Acquisition date

1878

Acquisition source (i.e. name of donor)

Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer

Acquisition source role (e.g. donor)

Donor

Image