Circa 900-1000 AD An iron axe headprising a short, curved blade, elongated cheek, lozenge-shaped poll and round socket. Fair condition; mounted on a custom-made stand. The bearded axe, or Skeggøx (from Old Norse Skegg, "beard", and øx, "axe") wasmon from the 6th century AD onwards in Scandinavia but made most famous by the Vikings, who used these axes in battles to terrible effect. In bearded axes, 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 their opponents. For more information on Viking axes, see: Hubbard, B. (2016) The Viking Warrior. London: Amber Books Ltd, 139-141. Size: L:205mm / W:67mm; 780g Provenance: Property of an Oxfordshire art professional; previously in an old British collection, formed in the 1990s on the UK / International art markets.