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LOT 1482
Greek Bronze Tri-Finned Arrowhead Collection
CIRCA 7TH-3RD CENTURY B.C.
7/8 - 1 3/4 in. (77 grams total, 23-46 mm).
Comprising: seven arrowheads with a slender, lozenge-shaped blade and a socket extending near the tip, base of the socket with a side lug; eight socketted bronze arrowheads, mainly triangular or foliate in section, trilobate and with short socket. [15, No Reserve]
ProvenanceUK private collection before 2000.
Acquired on the UK art market.
Property of a London gentleman.
Cf. Sekunda, N., Marathon 490 BC, The first Persian invasion of Greece, Oxford, 2002, p.60; Gorelik, M., Weapons of Ancient East, IV millennium BC-IV century BC, Saint Petersburg, 2003, in Russian, for similar arrowheads from Eurasian sites (plate XLIV, figs.19, 31, 32, 36, 37, 38, 39, 51, 71).
FootnotesThe Scythians were famous for their archery abilities, and were often employed as mercenaries. The Athenian tyrant Pisistratus hired them and they participated in battles beside the Athenian phalanx as well as serving as a police corps keeping order within the city of Athens. This explains the great range of Scythian arrowheads found on the Greek sites.
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AUCTIONS:
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Chinese Serpentine and Gilt Bronze Ceremonial Axe
Qing Dynasty, 19th-early 20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £98
Comprising a serpentine pelta-shaped blade with taotie motif, bronze socket formed as a stylised fish with a lizard on its back, open mouth to accept the staff; in archaic style. 513 grams, 23.5 cm
Acquired UK, in the 1980s. Property of a retired South West London doctor -
Greek Bronze Arrowhead Collection
Circa 5th-3rd century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £221
Including triangular-section sockettedtype, triangular barbed type, tanged leaf-shaped type and others. 104 grams total, 23-58 mm
Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s. -
Medieval Iron Stirrup and Horse Bit
14th-16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Comprising: a snaffle bit with single bar and an iron stirrup in a form of elongated D, with an oval-shaped loop at the top, wide openwork footrest slightly curved forward, with decoration at the sides. 467 grams total, 18.5-26 cm
From the collection of the famous author, writer and speaker, Gordon Bailey, Essex, UK; formed since 1968.
Snaffle bits have not altered very much in their design over the centuries. Medieval snaffle bits have survived in reasonable numbers, although they are still rare. A number of different designs are known for them. Some had a plain straight bar serving as the mouth piece, like our example. The 15th-16th century stirrup shows an interesting decoration at the sides of the footrest.
