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LOT 1175
Chinese Style Bronze Ceremonial Halberd Sceptre Head
20TH CENTURY A.D.
11 in. (293 grams, 28 cm).
The leaf-shaped head displaying sinuous openwork animals on either side, rectangular collar with etched ornament, possibly a nameplate, repeated on both faces, a feline to one side and a flat-section arrow to the other, tubular socket below. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired in Germany.
Property of RWM Collection.
During the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.), Chinese warfare evolved. Kings and princes were replaced on the battlefield by infantries lead by military generals. New arms and armour were invented, including the halberd and crossbow. This sceptre head has a spearhead finial that features an openwork motif that is both decorative as well as functional, since it decreases the weight of the bronze, making the spear cheaper to produce and lighter to use.
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AUCTIONS:
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Medieval Iron Crossbow Bolt Group
Circa 12th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
Mainly comprising socketted bolts with tapering and facetted square-section tips. 682 grams total, 4.6-11.7 cm
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.
In medieval warfare crossbows were of great importance, used especially by infantry. An improvement of their effectiveness by inceasing the weight of projectiles as well the strength of the bow caused a clear evolution of body defences between 13th and 15th centuries A.D. -
Marlik Type Bronze Decorated Spearhead
13th-12th century B.C.Estimate: £300 - 400 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £160
With a long blade, broad midrib, rectangular-section long tang, engraved reinforced shaft and rounded shoulders. 481 grams, 43 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
In this category (Type II of the Khorasani typology) the blade has three fullers, and the shaft is usually engraved with diagonal lines. Similar spearheads were excavated by Dr Negahban in Marlik. -
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Viking Iron Axehead with Silver Inlaid Interlaced Dragons
7th-9th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £6,240
To both lateral faces, the upper face of the blade and the rear of the socket decorated with an interlaced design; slender body with bearded lower edge and curved blade, lateral spurs and rectangular panel to the butt. 282 grams, 14 cm
Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK. Accompanied by a copy of a four page report written by Saxon and Viking specialist Stephen Pollington. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11878-206842.
The style of the design inlaid to the axe is interesting since it evidently owes a great deal to the kinds of Insular Style ornament found in manuscripts of the 8th century in the British Isles. The elegant curves of the narrow tendrils are strongly reminiscent of the zoomorphic elements found in the Lindisfarne Gospels, St Gall Codex and the Book of Kells (Salin, 1935, pp.342-3; Moss, 2018) and the inlaid designs show the characteristic parallel curves found for example on some of the initials in those documents. The tight knot serpentine bodies recalls the similar dense knot found in the Kells manuscript (Salin's figure 731). However, the details of the layout and execution show that the piece is unlikely to have originated in the British Isles.
