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LOT 1022
Bactrian Bronze Eye Axehead
3RD-2D MILLENNIUM B.C.
6 1/4 in. (327 grams, 16 cm).
Fan-shaped blade; an apotropaic eye in relief to each side of the socket; wing-shaped extension to the rear.
ProvenanceFrom an old London, UK, collection.
Ex London, UK, gallery.
Cf. Gernez, G., L’armament en métal au Proche et Moyen-Orient: des origines a 1750 av. J.C., Paris, 2007, fig.2.15, subtype H 2.I.b
FootnotesMost of these axes are believed to have originated in Bactria, but some objects come from well documented contexts in Margiane (Gonur), Lut (Shahdad) and Kermanshah (Khinaman). According to Gernez they were made for ceremonial use.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1022
Bactrian Bronze Eye Axehead
Estimate £400 - 600€460 - 700 (for guidance only)$540 - 810 (for guidance only)
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Viking Age Baltic Iron Wide-Bladed Axehead
11th-13th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
With narrow T-shaped blade with curved edge, large round socket with lateral triangular flanges and rectangular extension to the rear. 785 grams, 18 cm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.
The Curonians were known as fierce warriors and sailors who were involved in several wars and alliances with the Swedish, Danish and Icelandic Vikings. Baltic tribes created an original and impressive set of weaponry. They included battle knives, battle axes and spears and javelins with medium sized heads of a characteristic shape. -
Pre-Achaemenid Bronze Short Sword with Bifurcated Pommel
Circa 8th century B.C.Estimate: £3,000 - 4,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £1,400
The blade with mid-rib divided in five vertical lines, emerging from the mouth of two stylised lion-heads, the eyes recessed to accept red inlay; the grip and upper part of the blade with incised spiral decoration; the ribbed pommel with twin roundels, each decorated with a recessed six-petalled rosette, traces of red pigment still visible. 665 grams, 50 cm
Ex old English collection. London art market, pre 2000. Property of a London, UK, gentleman. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11974-210547.
Examples of swords and daggers with the guard in the form of addorsed animal heads with the blade projecting from the mouths are known from Assyrian reliefs (for example on the orthostats from Tell al Rimah). -
Roman Iron Military Plumbata Head
4th-5th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
Missile weapon with short iron shaft and square-section barbed head, lead sleeve to the lower end of the shaft. 116 grams, 19 cm
From the collection of B. Posey, UK, 1990s.
The lead-weighted darts known as plumbatae mamillatae, (or breasted javelin) were short darts mounted upon a shaft, of the same shape, and thrown from a short distance. A Roman soldier would typically carry around 5-6 of these darts at any one time, fastened to the back of his shield. They could be thrown overhand or underhand, with an effective throwing range of up to 60 meters by trained soldiers. They could also be fixed upon longer shafts.
