Loading, please wait...
LOT 1085
African Yaka Sword with Scabbard
19TH CENTURY A.D.
27 1/2 in. (684 grams, 70 cm long).
An iron sword with leaf-shaped blade decorated with a simple punched line punched and zig-zag ornament; the hilt partially covered with leather with stitched junctions, twisted iron wire 'cage' and elongated iron pommel; accompanied by a fragmentary wooden leather-covered sheath with spatulate end. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired locally by donation.
Property of Sense Charity, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Cf. Spring, C., African Arms and Armour, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1993, p.65.
FootnotesThe Yaka are an African ethnic group found in the south-west of the DRC, with the Angolan border to their west. The Yaka people were historically known for their excellent diplomatic and military abilities which enabled them to found the Yaka kingdom in the 17th century. One of their distinctive weapons was a long, straight sabre which developed into an increasingly elaborate style during the 19th and 20th centuries A.D.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
-
Babylonian Duck-Billed Axehead
2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £364
A bronze duck-billed axehead with a curved, beak-shaped blade, with two pierced eyes and a raised ridge down the centre. 170 grams, 10 cm
Acquired in the 1990s. Ex Paris Gallery.
This axe corresponds to the type H4B of the Gernez classification. Several of these models, with their moulds, are known from the Levant, like those in Byblos, Ras Shamra, and Tell Arqa. On the other hand, a workshop level II of the Kültepe karum delivered two moulds, showing a local production of arms intended either for export or for the inhabitants originating from Mesopotamia or the Levant. This sub-type of eye-axes is characteristic of the Middle Bronze Age 1 (2050-1750 B.C.). -
Post Medieval Gauntlet Pair from a Suit of Armour
17th century A.D.Estimate: £600 - 800 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £300
A matched pair of iron mitten gauntlets from a tilting armour, each comprising a conical tubular wrist and ropework border in two sections permanently attached with rivets; articulating wrist section of four lames and curved finger section of four larger curved lames; hinged thumb to the side; some remnants of the original leather backing. 1.88 kg total, 33.5-34 cm high
Acquired London art market in early 1960s. From the private collection of the late Walter Steinberg, London, UK. -
London Proofed Percussion Revolver
19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £442
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.