LOT 0466

Egyptian Haematite Mace Head

4TH-3RD MILLENNIUM B.C.

2 3/5 in. (457 grams total, mace: 60 mm high).

Globular body with short socket and thickened rim; accompanied by a custom-made display stand.

Ex Norman Fargo collection.
with Olympia Auctions, 26 June 2024, no.119.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

See Gorelik, M., Weapons of Ancient East, IV millennium BC-IV century BC, Saint Petersburg, 2003, pl.XXX, nos.25 and 75, mace of a nobleman of Pharaoh Ptahhotep (I), detail of a wall painting, Old Kingdom, V Dynasty, mid-3rd millennium BC.

Norman Fargo was born in Los Angeles, California in 1945, the son of Hungarian immigrant Frank and his wife, Rose. His lifelong passion for collecting began at the age of six with a simple interest in rocks. By the 1960s, Norman had become a dedicated student of antique arms and armour, developing a deep appreciation for both craftsmanship and historical context. He began collecting at a time when many items now considered rare were still relatively accessible. A friendship with renowned collector Howard Curtis—whose important collection was partially sold at Christie’s, London in 1984—opened doors to early and exceptional material. Norman also acquired outstanding pieces from respected figures such as Frank Bivens and others known today through museum and auction catalogue provenance. Alongside his core collection of arms and armour (c.1450-1700), Norman developed an eye for period furniture and accessories. He also built a growing collection of Pre-Columbian art with an emphasis on Southern Mexican cultures, particularly Veracruz, as well as fine examples of Japanese Satsuma ware and cloisonné.