Exhibiting a range of petronel types, including example with ring-and-dot detailing. 106 grams total, 4.8-12 cm

Found Essex, UK.

The round-section shaft with one tapered end and a pointed, bulbous head. 435 grams, 69 cm

Acquired UK market.
Property of a Kent collector.

Used for hunting and in warfare. Possibly engraved using a possum tooth.

Mainly comprising socketted axeheads and hammer-butt adzes, together with other weapons. 9.5 kg total, 16-23.5 cm

Acquired 1990s-early 2000s.
East Anglian private collection.

See Glosek, M., Późnośredniowieczna broń obuchowa w zbiorach polskich (Late medieval blunt weapons in Polish collections), Warszawa-Łódź, 1996, pl.XXX, letter B, for some of these axes.

On type of axehead here presented, with similar specimens found in the territories of the Teutonic Order, was by far the most popular form of axe which remains unchangeable and continues to be used in the Baltic to this day. It appears in East European territories as early as the mid 13th century A.D.

Comma-shaped in plan with a lentoid-section head and clawed socket. 227 grams, 11.3 cm

Acquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.

With long triangular-section blade and narrow acute tip, shell-guard hilt with two rings to the reverse and knuckle-guard, wire-bound grip, poppyhead pommel with knop finial. 497 grams, 102.5 cm

Acquired UK market.
Property of a Kent collector.

Comprising a hoop with scrolled ornament on the carinated edge and triangular plaque with foliage motifs. 9.14 grams, 34.97 mm overall, 21.22 mm internal diameter (approximate size British X 1/2, USA 11 3/4, Europe 26.92, Japan 25)

Acquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.

Cf. Bikic, V., Beyond the Jewellery: Archer’s Rings in the Medieval Balkans (14th-15th centuries) in Bosselmann-Ruickbie, A. (ed.), New Research on Late Byzantine Goldsmiths’ Works (13th-15th Centuries), Mainz, 2019, figs.5, 6, 7.

Large rounded two-part bowl rivetted beneath the repoussé crest extending across the brow and around the circumference; repoussé arches above the eyes extending to the nasal; lateral D-shaped cheek-pieces with scallop to the forward edge, pierced for a chin-strap; some restoration of the bowl and one cheek-piece; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 4.7 kg total, 48 cm high including stand

Acquired 1971-1972.
From the collection of the vendor's father.
Property of a London, UK, collector.

Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11751-202770.

Cf. Beglova, E.A., Antichnoe nasledie Kubani (Ancient heritage of Kuban) III, Moscow, pp.410-422 (in Russian); Dedjulkin A.V., 'Locally Made Protective Equipment of the Population of North-Western Caucasus in the Hellenistic Period', in Stratum Plus, no. 3, 2014, pp.169-184; Симоненко А.В., 'Шлемы сарматского времени из Восточной Европы' (Sarmatian Age Helmets from Eastern Europe), in Stratum Plus, no.4, 2014, fig.15, no.1.

According both to Symonenko and Dedjulkin (2014, p.189, fig.9, nn.4-5-6), this category of helmet derives from Chalcidian types (with pseudo-Illyrian elements). As with Chalcidian helmets, our specimen shows vertical decorative lines on the bowl and triangular brow ornament. Distinct from Attic types, it does not have a protruding neck guard introduced on variant III of such helmets (Symonenko, 2014, fig. 15,2-3). According to Dedjulkin, these helmets derive from Greek prototypes, but are simplifications of the original models and made by local artisans. They were widely worn by mercenaries in the Hellenised armies of Pontus and other Hellenistic kingdoms across the Eastern Mediterranean.

Comprising six various types, together with various fittings; a number of holders decorated with banding. 270 grams total, 22-58 mm

Found Berkshire, UK.

Cf. similar examples in PAS, see SUSS-C3EDEC, LIN-C5B84A, NLM-6884E2, WMID-7484BA, BERK-088962.

Mainly comprising socketted bolts with tapering and facetted square-section tips. 682 grams total, 4.6-11.7 cm

Acquired 1990s-early 2000s.
East Anglian private collection.

Cf. Michalak, A., Arma confinii, przemiany późnośredniowiecznej broni na rubieżach Śląska, Wielkopolski, Branderburgii i Łużyc (Arma confinii, transformations of late medieval weapons on the borders of Silesia, Wielkopolska, Brandenburg and Lusatia, in Polish), Zielona Gora, 2019, pls.92-128, for similar projectiles.

In medieval warfare crossbows were of great importance, used especially by infantry. An improvement of their effectiveness by inceasing the weight of projectiles as well the strength of the bow caused a clear evolution of body defences between 13th and 15th centuries A.D.

Both with lozenge-section quillon block, shaped langet and scalloped grip, quillon with discoid terminals; one with knuckle guard with conical terminal. 528 grams total, 18-18.5 cm

Acquired on the UK art market.
Property of a Ruislip, UK, gentleman, by inheritance.

Comprising four tanged arrowheads, with large bronze elongated triangular blades and raised midrib, sharp central groove, cylindrical stem with handle for the shaft; three with barbed shoulders and convex sides. 106 grams total, 10.2-15.2 cm

Acquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.

See Khorasani, M.M., Arms and Armour from Iran. The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, Tübingen, 2006, figure 467, for the main type.

Some of these arrowheads seem to belong to the type V, subcategory type C, according to the classification of Khorasani and Negahban. In the four categories of triangular bronze arrowheads from Luristan, Marlik and Northern Iran individuated by Negahban, subtypes C and D of type V are larger arrow or javelin heads, C with barbed shoulders and D with round shoulders.

With wide swept blade, large socket with raised circumferential rib, hammer to the rear. 1.3 kg, 21 cm

Acquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.