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LOT 0228
Heniochi Dagger with Beast Heads
4TH-2ND CENTURY B.C.
11 in. (15 3/8 in.) (170 grams, 28 cm (753 grams total, 39 cm high including stand)).
A short iron dagger with triangular blade, short straight guard surmounted by a bronze pommel characterised by twinned beast heads projecting from each side; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired 1971-1972.
From the collection of the vendor's father.
Property of a London, UK, collector.
See Gamkrelidze, G., Shatberashvili, V., Pirtskhalava, M., Charkviani, M., Weapons and Armor in Georgia (5th century BC – 4th century AD), Batumi, 2018, pls.X no.6, XI, no.11, for similar examples.
FootnotesThe tribe of the Heniochs, according to Artemidorus of Ephesus, existed during the 5th-1st century B.C., on the Black Sea littoral that is part of present-day Abkhazia. Aristotle describes the Heniochi as a group of people "ready enough to kill and eat men." The dagger shows similarities with the pommel of a sword from Akhul Abaa grave 4 with twinned beast heads. These weapons of subtype I, according to the classification of Gamkrelidze-Shatberashvili-Pirtskhalava-Charkviani, were popular not only in Abkhazia, but throughout the territory of west Georgia during the 4th-1st century B.C.
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Cased Flintlock 'Knife and Fork' Gun Pair
19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,160
A pair of smooth-bore flintlock pistols of about 5mm bore formed as a knife and fork (two tines) set; with steel blades (the knife with a profile bust maker's mark) with the pistols contained within the brass foliate engraved handles, firing to the rear; each fitted with finely made steel single action flintlock mechanism to sides; contained in the original velvet-lined mahogany case with hinged lid and brass catches; actions in working order. 1.31 kg total, case 30 x 13 cm
Acquired Peter Wilson Auction, 2020, lot 13. Property of a Kent collector. Accompanied by lot ticket.
Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the Firearms Act, 1968, to be held as a curiosity or ornament. No license required but buyer must be over 18 years of age. -
Eastern European Silver Inlaid War-Hammer
16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £598
A copper-alloy war-hammer composed of ellipsoidal socket, waisted butt with shallow conical face and tapering, lozenge-section head, inlaid with a silver 'net' design. 453 grams, 18.5 cm
Private collection of Mr M.B., Mainz, Germany, 1990s. Property of a London businessman. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11203-186235.
The name obuch is Polish and means 'the blind end of an axe', but already at the beginning of the 15th century it meant a [unspecified] war hammer. According to Polish sources of 17th century, the war-hammer could have been formed into the shape of an axe (czekan), or in the form of a thick, slightly sloping spike (nadziak), or curved like a round cracknel (obuch). A 17th century description states: 'It was a terrible instrument in the hand of a Pole...With the sabre one could cut off somebody’s hand, cut the face, injure the head, and the running blood of the adversary would calm down the rancour. But with the obuch one could cause a deadly wound without even seeing the blood, and – not seeing it – he would not calm down instantly, but would strike several times without cutting the skin, breaking ribs and bones at the same time.' -
Western Asiatic Paddle-Shaped Axehead
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £98
A copper-alloy axehead with curved cylindrical butt and socket, waisted neck and D-shaped cutting edge; incised scale decoration to the socket. 353 grams, 12 cm
Early 1990s London collection. Acquired on the UK art market. From a private collection, Lancashire, UK.
These kind of axes had a simple but aesthetic form, with the round socket placed at the edge of the rounded butt which tapered smoothly to a flat, splayed crescent-shaped blade.
