Details

LOT 0004

Bronze Age Bronze Nenzigen-Reutlingen Type Sword

13TH CENTURY BC

22 1/4" (414 grams, 56.5cm).

A slender parallel-sided blade, tapering to the tip, with median flat-section rib and stepped profile; the shoulders straight-sided and angled with lateral flanges extending to flared horns; four rivet holes to the shoulder and three larger to the hilt centre. [No Reserve]

Provenance

Ex Sir Richard Ground (1949-2014) Collection, Derbyshire, UK; acquired London gallery 2004; previously with Christie's, sale 5524, lot 17 (part); ex Axel Guttman Collection, AG 1025.

Literature

Cf. Cowen, J. D. The Earliest Bronze Swords in Britain and Their Origins on the Continent of Europe, Proceedings of Prehistoric Society vol.17, 1951; Burgess, C. & Colquhoun, I. The Swords of Britain, Prähistorische Bronzefunde, Ab. IV, vol.5, Munich, 1988, items 59-61.

Footnotes

The sword-type is called in Continental literature 'Nenzigen' but in more recent work by Burgess & Colqhoun they are described as 'Reutlingen' type. Each piece from the collection is accompanied by Sir Richard's personal illustrated catalogue sheets which describe the piece fully, give details and circumstances of his acquisition, academic references and general notes.

The eminent lawyer Sir Richard Ground, OBE (1949 - 2014), a graduate of Lincoln College Oxford, was called to the bar at Gray's Inn in 1975. After a period spent specialising in media law, he was, in 1983, appointed Crown Counsel in the Cayman Islands, a position which he held until 1987 when he assumed the role of Attorney General. He served as Chief Justice of the Turks and Caicos Islands from 1998 to 2004, and then as Chief Justice of Bermuda until his retirement in 2012. Highly regarded in legal circles for his decisiveness and impeccable integrity, he was awarded the OBE in 1991 in recognition of his services to the Cayman Islands, and was made a Knight Bachelor in 2012 for services to justice in Bermuda. He had a passion for the natural world and worked alongside his wife, fellow lawyer Lady Ground, to found the National Trust for the Cayman Islands, as well as publishing several volumes of wildlife photography.

Sir Richard was a keen and knowledgable collector of both coins and ancient weaponry. His collection of Roman, Byzantine, English, and European coins fetched exceptional prices when sold by Spink in September 2014. It is with pride that we are able to offer his collection of Bronze Age weaponry for auction.

CONDITION