Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History, Stamps & Coins

Barbed and tanged type with thick square-section neck and long tang. 179 grams total, 15-17 cm



Ex Abelita collection, 1980-2010.

The blade expanding towards the shoulders, a pierced rectangular-section tang. 174 grams, 29.2 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1990s.

Broad double-edged blade with raised gusseted midrib, rounded tip and short tang. 381 grams, 37.7 cm



Ex West Country, UK, collection, 1990s.

With lanceolate head, square-section neck and rounded shoulders. 50.6 grams, 16.6 cm



From a UK collection formed in the 1980s. Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.

Comprising a cylindrical shaft with flared mouth, rounded flanges around the bulb, and horizontal stepped collars. 263 grams, 13.4 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

Comprising leaf-shaped and triangular tanged arrowheads, most with a raised midrib. 238 grams total, 8.1-18.7 cm



London, UK, collection, 1990s.

All these bronze typologies of arrowheads were cast in moulds. Similar specimens have been found in Northwest and West Iran, Azerbaijan, Luristan and Amlash. Most of these blades are bipartite, but the definition of the bipartite type is not absolute, as it brings together weapons of very different and unrelated designs. In fact, some weapons do not have a sufficiently characteristic shape to be interpreted as a javelin or long arrowhead.

Each with four arms tipped with triangular spikes. 30 grams total, 60-62 mm



Acquired on the German art market before 2000. Property of a Surrey, UK, collector.

Caltrops were scattered on battlefields in an effort to stop or slow advancing enemy cavalry or foot soldiers; regardless of how a caltrop lands, one spike is always facing upwards. Caesar used them widely at Alesia (Caes., BG 7.73; 82): 'Stakes a foot long, with iron hooks attached to them, were entirely sunk in the ground before these, and were planted in every place at small intervals; these they called spurs'.

A triangular bronze arrowhead on a display stand with a glass cover. 113 grams total, 16.6 cm including stand



Purchased on the European art market. Property of a Norfolk, UK, collector.

Lentoid in form with raised figure of a coiled snake to one face, possible legend to reverse. 31.2 grams, 31 mm



Private collection, Austria. Private collection, Europe.

Slender, triangular blade with rounded, pierced shoulders, a raised triangular midrib extending to a tubular socket. 310 grams, 40 cm



Acquired on the UK art market since the 1960s. From the private collection of Mr J.P.H., a Woolwich, UK, collector, his collection formed since the 1960s.

Comprising a triangular blade with a narrow midrib, a short tang with two attachment studs in situ. 184 grams, 32 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

Comprising a two-edged straight-sided blade with shallow point, square-section crossguard with two vertical clips to grip the scabbard, columnar leather-bound grip and disc pommel; the wooden scabbard covered with leather decorated with heavily tooled bands, crocodile-skin panels to the chape and attachment collars, flared leaf-shaped lower body; broad tooled leather belt with securing laces. 1.25 kg, 10.5.5 cm



From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s.