Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History & Coins

Comprising a leaf-shaped blade with a midrib and a long tapering socket; accompanied by a display stand. 771 grams total, 44 cm including stand



with Art Ancient, London, UK. Private collection, London.

The spear, belonging to type 3 of the Khorasani classification, was used by chariot fighters to strike each other or the enemy infantry from above. Similar specimens with longer sockets were excavated by Negahban in the Amlash area. According to Moorey, sockets as long, if not longer than the blade, are a characteristic of Iranian spearheads in the late 2nd and early 1st millennium B.C. A similar spearhead from the Tappeh Sialk has been dated to the 9th-7th century B.C.

With stylised repoussé head and face detailing showing two faces, one to the side and the other to the top, the mane represented by a scalloped border; sheet-silver cladding to the head over bronze; pierced for attachment. 80.9 grams, 78 mm



Ex London, UK, gallery, 1971-early 2000s. London, UK, collection.

Longsword of Oakeshott's Type XVa, cross style 1, with two-edged lenticular-section piled blade with taper overall to a narrow point; quillons round in section with taper to ends and lobe finials, median locket to lower edge; flat-section tang tapering to the upper end; the pommel a variant of Oakshott's Type V with median vertical band to each face, piriform block with lateral scoops. 1.07 kg, 105 cm



From the private family collection of a lady, UK; acquired in Germany, mid-20th century. 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.13301-257660.

The Type XVa of Oakeshott has a blade similar to the Type XV, being generally more slender than its parent type, and having a grip which is much longer, ranging from seven to nine inches long or more. This style of sword appears to have been popular in the 14th century, based on surviving examples. Interesting is here the style of the quillons, which are rare: in style 11 the guard may be long or short, curved or straight, but always characterised by knobbed ends and a circular or rhomboidal in section. A sword found in the River Ouse in Surrey shows a similar blade, with a flat oval diamond section, and the outline is such that the sword could be regarded as of type XV, although many swords of type XVII are of the same shape and proportions.

Longsword of Oakeshott's Type XVIIIa or b, comprising: two-edged, slender lenticular-section piled blade with taper overall to a narrow point; quillons square in section with taper and slight droop to ends; flat-section tang tapering to the upper end; pommel of Oakshott's Type I1 with scooped border to each face, central panel. 873 grams, 99.5 cm



From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. 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.13302-257654.

Examples of this category of swords show almost every kind of hilt used during the 15th century, from the classic forms of the 13th century to all the new varieties of pommel and cross which developed after 1400. Because the previous types of swords were practically useless against the fully armoured man-at-arms, Western European warfare needed a sword able to pierce the weak points of the protective equipment, a circumstance that led to the creation of types XV, XVI and XVII that found their quintessence in the type XVIII. The subtypes XVIIIa and XVIIIb had longer blades, and especially the type XVIIIb was a very long-gripped bastard sword.

Comprising: two-edged lenticular-section piled blade (Oakshott's Type XII) with gentle taper overall to a narrow point; quillons round in section with taper to ends and hooked finial; broad flat-section tang tapering to the upper end; disc pommel of Oakshott's Type K with scooped border to each face, central disc with beaded rim, inner heater-shaped panel with reserved cross potent. 1.32 kg, 101 cm



From the private family collection of a lady, UK; acquired in Germany, mid-20th century. 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.13303-257659.

Comprising: two-edged lenticular-section piled blade (Oakshott's Type XI) with gentle taper overall to a rounded point and fuller to both faces; quillons round in section with taper to ends; flat-section tang tapering to the upper end; disc pommel of Oakshott's Type G with slightly domed faces. 1.01 kg, 95 cm



From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. 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.13303-257653.

Well-preserved bone awl with a long tapering point, inked collector's note 'Abris Val de Seine Poinçon, Magdalenien Dragage / Seine 75480'. 25.9 grams, 14.4 cm



From Abris Val De Seine, France. From an auction with Art Remy Le Fur. Acquired on the European art market in the 2020s. Accompanied by a copy of a French export licence no.257541.

The Magdalenian is a technocomplex of the Late Upper Palaeolithic, named after the type site of Abri de la Madeleine, a rock shelter located in the Vézère valley of Tursac in Dordogne, France.

Large ovate handaxe 'blank' with initial knapping work already undertaken, preparatory to finishing and dressing. 790 grams, 19 cm



Formerly in the collection of Swedish Industrialist Nils Thorwaldsen (1918-2019). Ex private collection; acquired during the 1970s-1980s.

These flint axe 'blanks' were widely traded during Neolithic times.

Extremely large example of a chopping tool, likely made by Homo heidelbergensis; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 1.54 kg, 21.1 cm



From the well-regarded, long-closed quarry site of St Meme, Charente, France. From an old, large French collection. Acquired on the European art market. From a UK private collection.

Smaller handaxes continued as components of Middle Palaeolithic industries (Acheulian and Mousterian) associated with the Neanderthal and Homo sapiens. These rather crude handaxes probably reflect the coarser nature of the stone.

Substantial and well-made handaxe with thick butt and rounded cutting edge; marked 'St Même FR'; likely made by Homo heidelbergensis; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 719 grams, 17.5 cm without stand



From the well-regarded, long-closed quarry site of St Meme, Charente, France. From an old large French collection. Acquired on the European art market. From a UK private collection.

Smaller handaxes continued as components of Middle Palaeolithic industries (Acheulian and Mousterian) associated with Neanderthal Homo sapiens.

Trapezoidal in form with thick butt and curved cutting edge; cracked. 1.8 kg, 29.2 cm



Private collection, United Kingdom; reportedly found whilst fieldwalking, 1980s. Thence by descent.

Lentoid in section with broad rounded butt; edge chipped; effaced inked text to one face. 986 grams, 21 cm



Found during the original official excavations in the Farnham area, Surrey, UK, which were conducted by Harold Faulker (1875-1963), and William Francis Rankine (c.1877-1962), who were instrumental with the excavation works and pit dwellings at sites including Six Bells, Frensham, Tilford, Thursley and Bagshot, and Waverley, amongst others at and near Farnham in the 1930s and 1940s. Much of the material is now in the prestigious Farnham museum. The present part of the collection having been gifted to their good friend and Haselmere Parish Priest, Charles Borelli (c.1914-2000) of Farnham; who was part of the Borelli family from Italy who emigrated from Lake Como in 1828 to set up the Borelli family watch and jewellery business; thence by family descent to his nephew.

Farnham district is one of the most interesting prehistoric regions in England, and has been visited by a succession of prehistoric peoples from Palaeolithic times onwards. Along the southern slope of the Farnham valley are three gravel terraces, which are famous prehistorically and have yielded large quantities of flint implements and bones of prehistoric animals, notably the mammoth. In prehistoric times, the chalk deposits played an important role in attracting settlers, as they contained rich layers of flint nodules used to make implements. The Farnham Gravels have been an abundant source of Palaeolithic finds, most prominent being hand axes. The axes differ in type, and each type is associated with a cultural phase of the Palaeolithic period. Types similar to these are found in similar deposits in the Somme valley and in many English valley gravels. Flint mining was also carried out by the Neolithic folk. Polished axes and leaf forms, arrowheads and knives, or possibly lance heads, are characteristic of the Neolithic flint work.