Bronze Age Decorated Sceptre Head

With ogival sides, a raised mid-rib and lozenge-shaped shoulders, remains of the tang with a hole for the insertion of the fastening rivet. 223 grams, 31.5 cm



Acquired in the late 19th century. Ex private collection, Liverpool, UK. Helios Gallery Antiquities, Wiltshire, UK. Private collection, Preston, UK. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Helios Gallery no.H3163r.

The top of the sword is missing, and the shape of the blade resembles that of swords of the late European Bronze Age, but the particular shape of the central groove of the blade, which forms a three-quarter median rib before tapering towards the point, could lead one to believe that the sword was of the antennal type with median rib, like the sword from Central Italy preserved in the Calvet Museum, Avignon.

Comprising a pair of opposing wire coils decreasing in thickness from edge to centre, a figure-of-eight to the centre; integral pin and catch-plate to the reverse. 84 grams, 13.3 cm



From the family collection of a Surrey gentleman since before 1960.

The spectacle fibula was widely distributed from the Balkans and northern Greece to southern Italy. Seven variations occur under this type with modifications made to the discs of the fibulae as well as the central connecting device. In the first and second variations (variant 2-2b of Hambleton, the type here), the discs are coiled, whereas in the third and fourth the centre of the coil is left open. The figure eight loop also becomes shorter and wider in the fourth variant.

Featuring an elliptical socket and wedge-shaped cheeks with convex cutting edge, raised concentric triangle-in-trapezoid to both sides of the neck. 485 grams, 13.5 cm



Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK.