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LOT 1624
Bactrian Bronze Ceremonial Clawed Macehead
2ND-1ST MILLENNIUM B.C.
2 7/8 in. (89 grams, 73 mm).
Comma-shaped in plan with a lentoid-section head and clawed socket. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
The 'claw mace' was an enigmatic ancient bronze weapon from the Bronze Age Near East. The hollow bulbous head was trailed by tines of varying lengths. It is believed that it was affixed over a wooden shaft and used like a club in combat, and not necessarily used as ceremonial weapon. The knife edge bulb end could have broken bones and proven to be a formidable striking weapon requiring no skill to wield. The tines would have not only been decorative, but have served to add strength below the striking end to prevent breakage. In battle, maces were often used by commanders to display rank when giving orders in battle and leading soldiers, inspiring leadership and power.
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AUCTIONS:
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Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
A bulbous missile with dome filler-hole and long neck, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 337 grams, 10 cm
From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 1990s onwards. 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'. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato. -
Medieval Iron Anti-Cavalry Caltrop Group
13th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £98
Each hand-forged with square-section spikes, designed so that however the item falls, one spike is always vertical. 240 grams total, 74-95 mm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato. -
Iron Age Celtic Iron La Tene Sword with Scabbard
250-120 B.C.Estimate: £1,200 - 1,700 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £600
Comprising a double-edged sword, the blade terminating in a round point, a shallow groove running along both sides of the blade, lozenge-section grip with four edges; supplied with a curved guard and a small cylindrical pommel; the scabbard with edged borders and the slide scabbard for the fastening of the suspension chain. 1.06 kg total, 64-76 cm
Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
The sword belongs to the period of the last Celtic deeds in Europe, when their warriors succeededin sacking the Holy Sanctuary of Delphi in Greece. Livy, based upon the text of Polybius generically speaks of 'Gallica arma' and 'ferrum', the latter synonymous of a sword (Livy, XXI, 42, 1-4). Diodorus tells us that the swords were worn by the Celts on the right side, hanging from a belt tied around his waist and were not carried hanging from a baldric over the shoulder like the Greeks or the Etruscans (V, 30, 3). He describes (V, 29 and 30) the fighting techniques of the Celts (combat chariot) and a list of all the weapons used: shields as tall as a man which exhibit embossed figures of animals in rolled brass with both decorative and protective function; the brass helmets with high crests, horns, or with figures of birds and quadrupeds to the top; a chainmail armour in iron; long swords hanging from the right side by means of iron and bronze chain; spears; javelins; war trumpets with hoarse sounds; and gold or silver plated belts.
