Loading, please wait...

Use mousewheel to zoom in and out, click to enlarge

Details

LOT 1493

Chinese Liao Bone Arrowhead

LIAO DYNASTY, 907-1125 A.D.

4 1/2 in. (9.3 grams, 11.4 cm).

Conical with a tapering, short tang. [No Reserve]

Provenance

Ex property of a UK gallery, early 2000s.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

CONDITION

VETTING:

TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process


AUCTIONS:

TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.

LOT 1493

Chinese Liao Bone Arrowhead

Sold for (Inc. bp): £7

Print page

RELATED LOTS

  • Amarlu Type Bronze Sword with Integral Hilt
    Amarlu Type Bronze Sword with Integral Hilt
    10th-9th century B.C.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £247

    With a tapering two-edged blade with raised midrib and scaphoid lower-guard, rectangular tang with three raised collars and raised edges. 461 grams, 50 cm

    Missing ear-shaped pommel

    Ex London art market, 1980-1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

    The sword belongs to type VII of the Medvedskaya classification, characterised by ear-pommels, unfortunately here lost. These swords, usually found in the Amarlu area, had the handle cast with the blade, and the grip was solid and square, often decorated with horizontal collars.

    Lot Details

  • Western Asiatic Bronze Dagger Blade Collection
    Western Asiatic Bronze Dagger Blade Collection
    2200-600 century B.C.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £182

    Comprising four triangular and leaf-shaped blades, one with pierced tang with rivet hole and one pierced through the shoulders with two rivet holes; an arrowhead with strong mid-rib, short tang and narrow foliate blade. 321 grams total, 15-24.5 cm



    Ex London art market, 1980-1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

    Some of the daggers represent one of the earliest form of the tangless round-heeled dagger, and the smaller examples were used as knives. Small tanged blades without a rivet, which have sometimes been identified as spearheads, are knives, while the riveted form could be used as a dagger or for domestic purposes.

    Lot Details

  • Byzantine Greek Fire Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
    Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
    9th-11th century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £91

    Bulbous in profile with domed mouth; deeply incised X-motifs to the body and a band of radiating strokes around the neck; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 369 grams, 10.5 cm



    From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 1990s onwards. Accompanied by an academic paper by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato, dated 15 July 2019 and titled 'Eastern Roman Empire - Greek Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade (μεσαίον kακάβιον) 9th-11th century AD'. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

    Apart from the use of siphons or manual flame-throwers called cheirosiphona, special corps of Roman soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.

    Lot Details

Stay up-to-date with the latest from TimeLine Auctions by joining our mailing list