Lately, I’ve been receiving—suddenly—questions from collectors (or: metal seekers) asking me about Viking Age objects in their collections, asking for advice on what to do with them now that they want to find a new purpose (sell them or transfer them to an institution for further research).
After some further questioning, it turns out they want to sell their collection because they need to make money from one thing or another.

Because I want to manage expectations, I’m writing this blog. First of all: I offer advice on Viking Age objects. This concerns authentication—is it genuine/period; is it Viking Age or not; is it Viking at all—based on its decorative style or shape.
In doing so, I often research the object in question, and if the object’s decorative style or shape is beyond my immediate recognition—a process I’ve accumulated over more than twenty years—I consult sources, delve into new ones, and/or seek advice from other experts if I still can’t figure it out, which doesn’t happen often. If I truly can’t give a satisfactory answer, I will be upfront about it.

When someone asks me for advice on what to do with their collection, I can offer advice from the perspective of someone who wants to sell it. There are several options, and the primary consideration is the intended purpose of the collection. Is monetary return the primary consideration, or is preserving the objects in a consistent environment with a consistent story about their provenance and interpretation?

Personally, I favor the latter, because someone with an object from the Viking Age, acquired through their own discovery or through collecting, is only a temporary holder of an – often – unique object.

What should you do in that case? A few tips:

If the collection originated from personal discoveries, then the context is obviously much more valuable than objects purchased “loosely” online without (satisfactory) context. Keep this in mind. True collectors—or: museums—with a passion for preserving this unique piece of material history will view the objects through this lens throughout their lives, seeking out their contextual value and/or preserving them for future generations who will want to marvel at them, conduct further research, or, simply, appreciate that these objects—under the radar of current researchers in museums or institutions/academics—may, at some point in the future, provide contextual information and interpretation for (currently) unknown finds, or finds gathering dust in a museum’s depot, that will one day resurface.

If you agree with such an approach and recognize that preserving objects is of greater intrinsic value than making money from them (are you listening, auction houses?), then the way to go is to contact local museums. The question then becomes whether the museum (or other official institution) is interested in incorporating the objects into their museum. They might want them, but what actually happens with them? Will they be exhibited? Will it disappear into storage? Or will it be further investigated/made available for research online or on-site? How do you “see” your collection (or: object) in such a museum, and do you have any wishes or expectations that the museum in question can accommodate?

If you’re more of the “other school” and want to sell your collection, there are other options. However, don’t overestimate the online interest in terms of potential revenue. Auction houses nowadays charge a 24% purchase fee and will often deliberately conceal the provenance if they think there’s money in it for them. On online auction sites like eBay or Catawiki, the selection of “junk Viking items” is so vast that I doubt there’s still a “public” there that recognizes or appreciates authentic Viking Age objects (given the many sales of objects that have absolutely nothing to do with Viking artefacts). Then look for smaller, reputable antique sellers with their own websites, who, at all costs, preserve the provenance and story for a future owner.

I am not a seller. If you choose the latter option, then you are the seller. First of all, I don’t know you and I won’t bet on the provenance of the objects you have in your collection and show me. That is the owner’s own responsibility.

The philosophical core question here is perhaps this:

What do you want to be: an owner or a custodian?

I hope these ‘tips’ provide some insight into my approach when it comes to advice and prevent and answer some questions—or, more importantly, expectations—in advance.

As always, I am happy to assist you in this philosophical consideration.