Home > Auctions > 21 - 25 February 2023
Ancient Art, Antiquities, Natural History & Coins
Auction Highlights:
Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,940
.jpg "Anglo-Saxon Gilt Chip-Carved Mount with Interlaced Panels")
.jpg "The Siddington Impressive Anglo-Saxon Chip-Carved Saucer Brooch Pair")
Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,160
A group of six bronze arrowheads with deltoid form, a sharp barbed blade and prominent midrib extending to a long tang. 52 grams total, 4.3-10.9 cm
Acquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
Cf. Muscarella, O.W., Bronze and Iron Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1988, pp.289ff., for similar, nos.408, 409, 416.
A number of arrowheads of this type have been excavated from the Northern Iranian Plateau, in Luristan and in the South-Caspian region. Many parallels have a burial provenance, but a large hoard of them was found in a non-funerary context. This type of arrowhead has been in use from the 2nd millennium B.C. Godard claimed that barbed types of heads came from tombs from Luristan, like the ones found in Tang-i-Hamamlan.
Acquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
Cf. Muscarella, O.W., Bronze and Iron Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1988, pp.289ff., for similar, nos.408, 409, 416.
A number of arrowheads of this type have been excavated from the Northern Iranian Plateau, in Luristan and in the South-Caspian region. Many parallels have a burial provenance, but a large hoard of them was found in a non-funerary context. This type of arrowhead has been in use from the 2nd millennium B.C. Godard claimed that barbed types of heads came from tombs from Luristan, like the ones found in Tang-i-Hamamlan.
A double action nickel plated 5-shot percussion revolver with numbered chambers, the chambers and barrel bearing London proof marks and the barrel numbered 2; the frame with foliate engraving and fitted with chequered wood grip scales with hinged steel loading lever; action in working order. 480 grams, 18 cm
Acquired Peter Wilson Auction, 2020, lot 10.
Property of a Kent collector.
Accompanied by lot ticket.
Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the Firearms Act, 1968, to be held as a curiosity or ornament. No license required but buyer must be over 18 years of age.
Acquired Peter Wilson Auction, 2020, lot 10.
Property of a Kent collector.
Accompanied by lot ticket.
Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the Firearms Act, 1968, to be held as a curiosity or ornament. No license required but buyer must be over 18 years of age.
A bronze dagger with a tapering triangular blade, the handle with three raised concentric bands, crescent-shaped pommel. 322 grams, 37 cm
Ex S. Motamed collection.
with Bellman's Auctions, 20th-26th June 2015, lot 2482.
Property of a London gentleman.
Cf. for a parallel (in iron) Vanden Berghe L., ‘Excavations in Pusht-i Kuh (Iran) Tombs Provide Evidence on Dating "Typical Luristan Bronzes"’ in Archaeology, June, 1971, pp.263-271, fig.10, p.265.
Several similar iron daggers were discovered during excavations at War Kabud. Differently from the bronze specimens, where the handle is ribbed, the iron specimens have bronze nails for fastening of the wooden grip on either side.
Ex S. Motamed collection.
with Bellman's Auctions, 20th-26th June 2015, lot 2482.
Property of a London gentleman.
Cf. for a parallel (in iron) Vanden Berghe L., ‘Excavations in Pusht-i Kuh (Iran) Tombs Provide Evidence on Dating "Typical Luristan Bronzes"’ in Archaeology, June, 1971, pp.263-271, fig.10, p.265.
Several similar iron daggers were discovered during excavations at War Kabud. Differently from the bronze specimens, where the handle is ribbed, the iron specimens have bronze nails for fastening of the wooden grip on either side.
A substantial copper-alloy adze-axe head composed of a cylindrical socket, one blade at a right angle to the socket with tapering sides and D-section cutting edge; one blade upright with convex cutting edge. 559 grams, 16.5 cmFine condition.
Acquired in the 1980s.
London, UK, private collection.
Property of an Essex gentleman.
Acquired in the 1980s.
London, UK, private collection.
Property of an Essex gentleman.
A Gras bayonet with T-shaped tapering 'epee' blade fitted with steel perforated quillon, rivetted wood grip scales and brass pommel slotted to fit the rifle barrel key; various punchmarks and numbered '54506' to quillon, the back of the blade inscribed 'Mme d'Arennes de Chatrs Avril 1878' in script. 573 grams,64.5 cm
Acquired on the UK antiques market between 1974-1985.
Albert Ward collection, Essex, UK.
See Capwell, Dr Tobias, Knives Daggers & Bayonets, 2009, p.179.
Acquired on the UK antiques market between 1974-1985.
Albert Ward collection, Essex, UK.
See Capwell, Dr Tobias, Knives Daggers & Bayonets, 2009, p.179.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,340
An iron broad axehead of asymmetrical profile with reinforced curved cutting edge, triangular-section socket with flanking spurs to upper and lower edges. 387 grams, 15.7 cm
Acquired 1971-1972.
From the collection of the vendor's father.
Property of a London, UK, collector.
Cf. Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.14(5); Hjardar K. and Vike, V., Vikings at war, Oxford-Philadelphia, 2016, p.162, for a similar specimen from Troms, dated 1000-1050 A.D.
The broad axe of type M is a weapon specifically designed as battle-axe with the edge, being Þunssleginn, i.e. thinly forged. These broad axes were the prerogative of the housecarls of the Anglo-Danish King Canute, of the guardsmen fighting with Harold at Stamford Bridge and Hastings in 1066 A.D. and of the famous Varangian Guard of the Roman emperors of Constantinople.
Acquired 1971-1972.
From the collection of the vendor's father.
Property of a London, UK, collector.
Cf. Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.14(5); Hjardar K. and Vike, V., Vikings at war, Oxford-Philadelphia, 2016, p.162, for a similar specimen from Troms, dated 1000-1050 A.D.
The broad axe of type M is a weapon specifically designed as battle-axe with the edge, being Þunssleginn, i.e. thinly forged. These broad axes were the prerogative of the housecarls of the Anglo-Danish King Canute, of the guardsmen fighting with Harold at Stamford Bridge and Hastings in 1066 A.D. and of the famous Varangian Guard of the Roman emperors of Constantinople.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £546
An iron axehead with broad curved blade and spur to the chin, narrow neck, deep socket with lateral spurs and extended plate to the reverse. 777 grams, 20 cm
Acquired 1971-1972.
From the collection of the vendor's father.
Property of a London, UK, collector.
Cf. Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.14, item 3; Sedov, B.B., Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, table V, items 16, 17, 20.
Iron axeheads of this typology show a sub-trapezoidal asymmetrical blade, sometimes perforated through the centre. They are characterised by two projecting spurs to the back of the shaft-hole.
Acquired 1971-1972.
From the collection of the vendor's father.
Property of a London, UK, collector.
Cf. Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.14, item 3; Sedov, B.B., Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, table V, items 16, 17, 20.
Iron axeheads of this typology show a sub-trapezoidal asymmetrical blade, sometimes perforated through the centre. They are characterised by two projecting spurs to the back of the shaft-hole.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £182
A ceramic vessel with a piriform body and domed mouth, two incised rings to the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 470 grams, 10.2 cm
Previously in a private collection since the 1990s.
Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher.
Accompanied by an academic paper by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato, dated 15 July 2019 and titled 'Eastern Roman Empire - Greek Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade (μεσαίον kακάβιον) 9th-11th century AD'.
Cf. Arendt, W. I., Granaten des 13-14. Jahrhunderts, die an der Wolga gefunden sind, Zeitschrift fur Historische Waffen-und Kostumkunde, 11 (1926-8), p.42; cf. Arendt, W., Die Spharisch-konischen Gefasse aus Gebranntem Ton, ibid; cf. Ayalon, D., Gunpowder and Firearms in the Mamluk Kingdom, London, 1956, p.16.
Apart from the use of siphons or manual flame-throwers called cheirosiphona, special corps of Roman soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. Such were the γανωτα, vessels (sometimes also of bronze) used for Greek fire. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.
Previously in a private collection since the 1990s.
Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher.
Accompanied by an academic paper by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato, dated 15 July 2019 and titled 'Eastern Roman Empire - Greek Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade (μεσαίον kακάβιον) 9th-11th century AD'.
Cf. Arendt, W. I., Granaten des 13-14. Jahrhunderts, die an der Wolga gefunden sind, Zeitschrift fur Historische Waffen-und Kostumkunde, 11 (1926-8), p.42; cf. Arendt, W., Die Spharisch-konischen Gefasse aus Gebranntem Ton, ibid; cf. Ayalon, D., Gunpowder and Firearms in the Mamluk Kingdom, London, 1956, p.16.
Apart from the use of siphons or manual flame-throwers called cheirosiphona, special corps of Roman soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. Such were the γανωτα, vessels (sometimes also of bronze) used for Greek fire. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.
A group of bronze socketted arrowheads of various types, including lozenge-shaped examples, spurred types and examples with triangular cross-sections. 68.3 grams total, 24-45 mm
Acquired before 2000.
From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.
Acquired before 2000.
From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.
A copper-alloy axehead with curved cylindrical butt and socket, waisted neck and D-shaped cutting edge; incised scale decoration to the socket. 353 grams, 12 cm
Early 1990s London collection.
Acquired on the UK art market.
From a private collection, Lancashire, UK.
Cf. Muscarella, O.W., Bronze and Iron Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1988, no.539, p.407, for similar.
These kind of axes had a simple but aesthetic form, with the round socket placed at the edge of the rounded butt which tapered smoothly to a flat, splayed crescent-shaped blade.
Early 1990s London collection.
Acquired on the UK art market.
From a private collection, Lancashire, UK.
Cf. Muscarella, O.W., Bronze and Iron Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1988, no.539, p.407, for similar.
These kind of axes had a simple but aesthetic form, with the round socket placed at the edge of the rounded butt which tapered smoothly to a flat, splayed crescent-shaped blade.
An iron catapult dart formed with a tapering cylindrical socket, square-section neck and barbed triangular head with full-length medial rib to both faces. 94 grams, 29 cm
Acquired before 2000.
From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.
Acquired before 2000.
From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.
A leaf-shaped blade with prominent midrib, square-section tang with expanding bent finial. 310 grams, 34 cmFine condition.
Acquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
Cf. Gernez, G., L’armament en métal au Proche et Moyen-Orient: des origines a 1750 av. J.C., Paris, 2007, p. 310 vol. I, pl.188 vol.II, subtype L2F.A (?), for the type.
Acquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
Cf. Gernez, G., L’armament en métal au Proche et Moyen-Orient: des origines a 1750 av. J.C., Paris, 2007, p. 310 vol. I, pl.188 vol.II, subtype L2F.A (?), for the type.
Page 63 of 177
745 - 756 of 2116 LOTS
745 - 756 of 2116 LOTS
