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LOT 1078
Heavy Western Asiatic Bronze Axehead
LATE 3RD MILLENNIUM B.C.
5 3/4 in. (741 grams, 14.5 cm).
With swept blade, large socket with shallow raised circumferential rib and a vertical rib to the rear.
ProvenanceAcquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
For similar examples of axes see Gorelik, M., Weapons of Ancient East, IV millennium BC-IV century BC, Saint Petersburg (2003), pl.XX, no.44 (Mundigak, layer III, third quarter of the 3rd millennium B.C.).
FootnotesIn the middle of the 3rd millennium B.C., the most widespread types of axes were those made for splitting and those for cutting. In the last third of this millennium there emerged a sharp differentiation between such axes. Such a sharp division by function should be associated with the influence of the Syro-Palestinian tradition. Such differentiation, in the absence of some multifunctional forms can be observed from the end of the 4th millennium B.C. and during the 3rd millennium B.C.
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LOT 1078
Heavy Western Asiatic Bronze Axehead
Estimate £100 - 140€120 - 160 (for guidance only)$140 - 190 (for guidance only)
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Roman Bronze Legionary Helmet with Inscription
1st century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £9,100
Montefortino helmet with bulbous domed skull and a plain crest knob with flattened top; plain and flat neck guard with thickened rim; the front with punched Latin inscription 'A N CFN'; the surface largely covered in marine encrustations; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 2.2 kg, 28 cm (4 kg total, 45 cm high including stand)
Private European collection, acquired 2001. 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 searcher certificate no.11576-198953.
This Montefortino specimen belongs to type C or D of Robinson’s classification, also identified under the continental system as Buggenum. The helmets of this category, mainly legionary helmets, were produced in mass by the state to be supplied to the troops fighting in the civil wars of the 1st century B.C. Artistic sources of the same period provide evidence for the use of Montefortino and Buggenum type helmets in sea battles, which has been confirmed by archaeological finds from the Albenga ship. Legionary helmets bore punched inscriptions, indicating the name of the wearer and the unit, i.e. cohors, centuria or turma. Here the punched letters 'AN' refer probably to the initials of the owner (Ancus N.?), and 'CFN' to centuria of Fabius C. -
Post Medieval Stone Grapeshot Ammunition Collection
Circa 17th-18th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £20
Group of spherical grapeshot balls of various sizes. 32 grams total, 14-17 mm
Private collection formed in the 1990s. Acquired from a central London gallery. Property of an Essex gentleman. -
Polish Iron Sabre
17th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,470
Single-edged cutting blade, comprising a cross-shaped hand guard, the blade with a wide curvature widening towards the point, three grooves on the blunt side; later replaced wooden handle with Persian pommel and cross guard. 709 grams, 89.5 cm
Ex private collection of Mr M.B., Mainz, Germany, since the 1980s. Acquired from the above, 2004. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11940-210918.
This sabre blade belongs to no. IIa of Zablocki's classification with a blade of variable curvature and double-edged pronounced yelmen. These sabres were used in the 17th and in the first half of 18th century A.D.
