Celtic Bronze Chariot Mount

Discoid in plan with central granule and three more to the rim; openwork comma-leaf motif; pin-lugs and catch to reverse. 8.23 grams, 31 mm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

Round-section collar with La Tène scrolls and bosses to the upper face, bulbs flanking the centrepiece of three discoid cells with inset glass segmented bosses, each surmounted by a domed stud; bosses replaced; handwritten note by Philippe Chauchoy stating 'Torque celtique en bronze garanti authentique, avec cabochons refaits - Fin du IVe-début IIIe siècle av[ant] J.C.' 149 grams, 15.4 cm



Ex Philippe Chauchoy, Amiens, Northern France, 1994. From the private collection of a West Midlands lady collector. Accompanied by an original handwritten and signed information card from Philippe Chauchoy, dated 6th June 1994.

A broad iron sword with tapering blade and rounded shoulders, bronze hilt with crescentic pommel and apotropaic eye motifs to both sides; accompanied by bronze scabbard or baldric elements including a pair of eyelets with suspension loops, four circular appliqués with conical tips and ropework borders, and a scabbard chape with two opposing ibexes; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 2.2 kg total, 78 cm including stand



From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12914-245170.

The sword belongs to the Caucasian culture of the Colchis and represents a very rare typology. A similar blade was found together with early Scythian arrows during excavations at Karmir-Blur. A similar combination found at Kulanurkhva’s excavations suggests that the appearance of such blades in Abkhazia is linked to the Scythian campaigns in Near Eastern Asia.