Two Nice Viking Items
 

A sword pommel and a stirrup mount.

Best,
m

What an enduring motif .... :)

Well, i doubt that this specific dragon-head is a viking era item.
It is so much identical with 18th-19th century Ottoman dragons, that i think is a mislabelled item.
Do we have another example of an accurately dated viking age dragon for comparison?

Interesting input, Eftihis, thank you.

So let's start comparing. :)

Here is a carved dragon and a dragon ornament, both from the Oseberg ship, plus a less finely preserved sample from another Viking ship.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oseberg_ship

http://www.google.de/imgres?imgurl=h...ed=0CFgQrQMwBg

Best,
Michael

Hi Michael,
Allthough the dragon is a universaly recognised symbol, its specific stylistic representation changed acccording to time and culture.
I think the first Turks, being a Mongol-like tribe, were heavily influenced by China, and their first dragons (like the famous example on a sultans yataghan blade, of a fight between a dragon and a bird) looked like the Chinese ones. At the same time, there is some similarity between the flat carved Viking dragon motifs on the ship you showed us, with the Seltzuk door handle of the 13th century, but thhis maybe due to the limitations of a "flat" object.
During renessance, in Europe and especially in Italy we often see a dragon looking monster, which is usually described as a sea-monster, sea-dragon, or sometimes as a dolphin. I think this is the model for the latter Ottoman dragon that we see in scabbard finials.
The last photo is a group of late 18th and 19th century bichaq daggers made during the Ottoman times in Crete. I think the style and anatomical characteristics are identical with the dragon we are discussing.

Hi Eftihis,

Thank you so much for that comprehensive outline of the art history of the dragon motif. From my background of knowlede I can confirm both the monsters' or dragons' ancient European ancestors and their Renaissance revival.

Best,
Michael

Salaams ~ Therefor are the artefacts at # 1 fakes?... Is the dragon fake and is the stirrup item real? ... I am uncertain of your conclusion gentlemen. :confused:

Regards Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Hi Ibrahiim,

Viking is not my field of expertise. I found these on a dealer's page and, as they were labeled sold, posted them for discussion without a comment.

Best,
Michael