Greek Slingshot with Scorpion

With triangular-section narrow blade widening to a broad bevelled edge and square chin, flared socket. 677 grams, 19 cm



From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The more commonly used weapons of the Finno-Ugrian people were axes, commonly found in all Finnic areas, as well as spears. Iron axeheads of this typology show a sub-trapezoidal asymmetrical blade, often perforated through the centre.

A two-edged spatha type with a lentoid parallel-sided blade, sloped shoulders and short tang pierced by an attachment rivet for the grip; the bronze lower guard rectangular in plan and scaphoid in section with inset garnet cloisonné in gold cells with rhomboid patterns alternating with circles; the upper top roundel of the pommel or insertion of the hanging stone divided into four gold cells in garnet cloisonné; accompanied by a barrel-shaped polished hilt stone. 696 grams, 74 cm



From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no. 12586-240319. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The sword is a Migration Period sword which usually had stones hanging from the pommel or hilt, like the one preserved here, which finds a parallel with the sword of Lord of Morken (Strassmeir, 2019, p.55, lett.G). This typology was widespread in Central Europe by the Huns and there are also specimens attested in Gaul and Spain in the 5th century.

Tapering leaf-shaped blade with a raised midrib developing to a short rectangular-section tang, pierced at the end. 412 grams, 50 cm



Acquired in the 1990s. Ex Abelita family collection. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.