Indo-Persian Inlaid Iron Talwar with Scabbard

A butted short-sleeved chainmail shirt made of thick oval rings assembled in the usual system of one-to-four; in an excellent state of preservation, with over 95% of the rings intact, very few broken or corroded, with no later additions. 9.93 kg, 87 x 56 cm



Acquired on the German art market before 2000. Private collection, South Germany. 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.13066-249665.

In the German-manufactured ring mail armours, in the 15th century A.D., the rings protecting the breast were very thick, whereas the sleeved mail armours were thinner. Master armourers from Nuremberg were famous for this production across Europe.

Piriform with vertical socket expanding towards the narrower end. 342 grams, 67 mm



Ex London, UK, collection, 1990-2000s.

Biconical in profile with casting seam and reserved legend 'ΔΑМΑCΕΝΟΥ' = of Damasenos, and 'M' to reverse. 28.5 grams, 28 mm



Acquired on the German art market before 2000. Private collection, Munich, Germany.

The leaden bullets, which were thrown with slings, were called in Greek molivdainai (μολύβδαιναι), and in Latin glandes; the former indicating the material ‘lead’, the latter the shape ‘acorns’. These bullets, were cast in a mould and bore letters or devices, or both, on two sides or only on one side. In form they were more like an almond than an acorn, but many are pointed at both ends.