Sword Scabbard Chapes |
---|
|
More Weapons pages
Introduction
This article is about metal fittings that were probably attached to Sword Scabbards. Peter Paulsen comprehensibly covered the subject of Viking sword scabbard chapes in 1953 in his book Schwertortbänder der Wikingerzeit [PAULSEN 1953].
English Styles
Archaeology
- England
- Ashwell, Hertfordshire C9th. Tree of life design. [dayofarchaeology.com] Note: We cannot verify this find in any other source.
- Castor, Peterborough [CAMERON 2000]:p.194 fig.258
- Lincolnshire. Anglo-Scandinavian [HAMMOND 2010]:p.80 fig.1.8.4-d
Borre Style 1
Paulsen's Type II.3
'Chapes with Germanic quadruped motif - Animal Style of the Baltic Region'
Paulsen lists a total of 10 finds of this group [PAULSEN 1953]:pp.48-53
In his opinion they are very similar to Oval brooch of type P48A. [PAULSEN 1953]:p.48
Andrshchuk Type 2
'Beast in Borre style with a mask in the middle'
Androshchuk dates this type to c.970s-980s [ANDROSHCHUK 2014]:pp.15-118
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]
Borre Style 1a
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
Borre Style 1b
9th/10th Century
Archaeology
- England, Hull [MILLS 2001]:p101 fig.V281
- Iceland, Ljarskogar [PAULSEN 1953]:pp.49-50, No.4, fig.55 [HAYEUR SMITH 2003]:p.354 no.5072
Borre Style 2
Andrshchuk Type 3c
'Bird/Beast in Borre/Jelling/Mammen style'
Androshchuk dates this type to the 10th century [ANDROSHCHUK 2014]:pp.15-118
Borre Style 2a
Paulsen's Type I.1
'Chapes with Germanic Bird Motif - Scandinavian Group'
Paulsen lists a total of 12 finds of this group [PAULSEN 1953]:pp.17-21
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
Borre Style 2b
- Wolin Chape.jpg
Poland, Wolin
Paulsen's Type I.1 - Variant
'Chapes with Germanic Bird Motif - Prussian Group'
Paulsen lists a total of 5 finds of this group [PAULSEN 1953]:pp.17-21
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 Type 1
Paulsen's Type II.1
'Chapes with Germanic quadruped motif - Scandinavian group of the 10th century'
Paulsen breaks the total of 19 finds of this group into 2 sub groups: [PAULSEN 1953]:pp.35-44
Andrshchuk Type 6
'Beast in Jelling style'
Androshchuk dates this type to c.950-1000 and splits it into 3 sub groups [ANDROSHCHUK 2014]:pp.15-121
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) [ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992].
Art
--
Literature
--
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
--
Jelling Type 2
Paulsen's Type II.2 'Chapes with Germanic quadruped motif - Swedish group of the 10th century'
Paulsen lists a total of 9 finds of this group. [PAULSEN 1953]:pp.35-44
Andrshchuk Type 5
'Beast in Jelling style'
Androshchuk dates this type to c.950-1000 [ANDROSHCHUK 2014]:pp.15-121
Bird (Falcon) style 1
Paulsen's Type I.2a & I.2b
'Chapes with Germanic Bird Motif - Swedish-Varangian Group'
Paulsen groups these into sub groups with a total of 9 finds [PAULSEN 1953]:pp.22-34
Andrshchuk Type 3a
'bird'
Androshchuk dates this type to the 10th century. [ANDROSHCHUK 2014]:pp.15-121
Otherwise known as the 'Birka Bird'. 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
- Birka.
- Poland
- Wolin [WOV 2003]:cat.986
- Ukraine
- Kiev [WOV 2003]:cat.4269
Discussion
--
Bird (Falcon) style 2
Paulsen's Type I.2c & I.2d
'Chapes with Germanic Bird Motif - Swedish-Varangian Group'
Paulsen breaks this group into 2 sub groups with a total of 23 finds [PAULSEN 1953]:pp.22-34
Andrshchuk Type 3b
'bird'
Androshchuk dates this type to the 10th century. [ANDROSHCHUK 2014]:pp.15-121
Otherwise known as the 'Birka Bird'. 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
- Sweden
- Astad. Eastern Influence 850AD – 950AD [GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 1980]:cat.442
- Birka.
- Poland
- Wolin [WOV 2003]:cat.986
- Ukraine
- Kiev [WOV 2003]: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
References