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LOT 1356
Bactrian Bronze Claw Axehead-Mace
2ND-1ST MILLENNIUM B.C.
4 in. (127 grams, 10.1 cm).
Egg-shaped with spiked sleeves or prongs, the top of the weapon with a narrow edge, the sleeves with small internal tangs for mounting.
ProvenanceAcquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
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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'The Farnham Castle' English Medieval Socketted Macehead
13th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,600
With a long tubular socket and raised circumferential ribs, three tiers of radiating spikes; found with remains of wooden haft in situ. 312 grams, 80 mm
Found near Farnham Castle, Farnham, Surrey, UK. From the private collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.
Maces were in use since the Bronze Age. In the Medieval Western Europe, maces are attested in England as throwing weapons at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. At the end of 12th century A.D., the mace head was made of metal and was, under the influence of Byzantium, one of the weapons of the armoured knight. Originally of round section and armed with strong pyramidal spikes, the mace head evolved into a cylindrical shape, sometimes reinforced with spikes, most often with flanges. -
Viking Age Iron Long Bearded Axehead
Circa 10th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £715
With broad curved blade and short spur beneath the chin, narrow neck, deep socket with extended edge to the reverse. 740 grams, 18 cm
From the collection of a Californian, USA, gentleman, dating back to the late 1960s.
The axe seems to be a variation of type IV of the Kirpichnikov classification of the Eastern Rus Axes typology. These axes appeared in the 10th century, and continued in the 10th-11th century. -
Viking Danish Iron Broad Axehead
Circa 9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,560
Of asymmetrical profile with reinforced curved cutting edge, triangular-section socket with flanking spurs to upper and lower edges. 370 grams, 18.5 cm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.
