900-1100 AD. Viking Age. Iron battle axe with heavy, elongated, straight blade, tapering cheek and reinforced rectangular poll. An incised star motif is visible on the cheek. The bearded axe, or Skeggøx (from Old Norse Skegg, "beard", and øx, "axe") was common from the 6th century AD onwards in Scandinavia, but made most famous by the Vikings, who used these axes in battle to terrible effect. Bearded axes are named for the fact that the main part of the axe blade extends below the butt of the axe, creating a large cutting blade and allowing a fighter to hook onto the shields or weapons of his (or her) opponents. Excellent condition; on a custom stand.Size: L:195mm / W:162mm ; 1.1kg; Provenance: Property of a London gentleman, formerly with the Parthenon gallery, previously in an old English collection formed in the 1980s