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LOT 1093
Early Georgian Incendiary Iron Cannon Ball
EARLY 19TH CENTURY A.D.
4 3/8 in. (3.9 kg, 11 cm diameter).
Featuring a circular opening to receive fuse and plug to one face; hollow-formed. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired after 2000.
Property of a Buckinghamshire, UK, gentleman.
See McConnell, D., British Smooth-Bore Artillery: A Technological Study to Support Identification, Acquisition, Restoration, Reproduction and Interpretation of Artillery at National Historic Parks in Canada, 1988; see Blackmore, H.L., The Armouries of the Tower of London. I. Ordnance, London, 1976.
FootnotesThe shrapnel shell is named after Lieutenant-General Henry Shrapnel (1761-1842), a British officer who devised the hollow, gunpowder-filled ball that was fused to explode either in the air or on the ground with the resulting ball fragments proving to be an effective anti-personnel weapon; later types were filled with lead musket balls and powder to make the weapon even more effective against troops; such projectiles were used both with field artillery cannon and with mortars.
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AUCTIONS:
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Indian Quatar Iron Dagger
18th-19th century A.D.Estimate: £1,000 - 1,400 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £500
Comprising a broad blade tapering to an armour-piercing point, the steel side bars and balustered grips decorated with copper Koftgari work flowers and scrolls. 488 grams, 48 cm
General condition very good.
Property of a London gallery.
Unique to South Asia, the quatar or katar was a dagger that held at the crossbars with a clenched fist. The weapon was meant to be thrust into the opponent or prey from a close range. Rajput and Mughal royalty used this weapon to hunt tigers and even crocodiles to demonstrate their bravery and martial skill. -
Volga Silver-Gilt Sword Belt Mount Group
11th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £195
Comprising: two matching ogival plates with pellet borders; a trefoil plate with border of radiating lines framing three concentric circle and oval motifs; a plate with five lobes decorated with dashed lines and six concentric oval motifs at the centre; ogival plate with scalloped border, trefoil motif at centre; ogival plate with pellet border divided into three 'petals' by larger single pellets, scrolling vegetal motif; a floral style plate composed of discoid dimples; irregular hexagonal plate, the shape repeated at the centre, pellet border; trilobate plate with three single pellets to the perimeter and pellet border; ogival plate with expanded waist, raised 'wings' and rounded lozenge against a background of radiating lines; nine with three attachment lugs to reverse, one with two lugs. 31.8 grams total, 17-26 mm
Fine condition.
Acquired in the 1980s-1990s. Ex an important central London gallery, London W1.
The belt fittings find various comparisons with non-ferrous belt appliqués found in the territories of the Volga Bulgars, like specimens from the Semenovsky village. These items were parts of long warrior belts, the leather surfaces decorated all over with such bronze and silver appliqués. Symbols of ranks and elite warrior aristocracy, these belts also served a utilitarian purpose of suspending weapons such as a bow, quiver or a sabre. -
Luristan Bronze Sword with 'Ear' Pommel
10th-9th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £585
Comprising a long tapering blade, rectangular-section hilt with raised circular bosses, horned crescent-shaped guard curved to accept the blade and a large bifurcated pommel formed as two ear-lobes with ribbed joining shank. 1.17 kg, 66 cm
Acquired in the early-1990s. Ex Guernsey collection. The Kusmirek Collection, UK.
This kind of sword was entirely made of cast bronze. They were characterised by an 'ear' pommel and raised mid-rib on the blade, square shoulders and rectangular, open guard. The handle was cast on the blade. The square and solid sectioned handle has bossed with reinforcements which allow a better grip.