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LOT 0268
Iron Age Celtic Iron La Tene Sword with Scabbard
250-120 B.C.
25 1/4 - 30 in. (1.06 kg total, 64-76 cm).
Comprising a double-edged sword, the blade terminating in a round point, a shallow groove running along both sides of the blade, lozenge-section grip with four edges; supplied with a curved guard and a small cylindrical pommel; the scabbard with edged borders and the slide scabbard for the fastening of the suspension chain. [2]
ProvenanceEx German art market, 2000s.
Acquired from an EU collector living in London.
From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
Cf. Connolly, P., Greece and Rome at war, London, 2006, pp.116-117, esp. figs. 7,7a, 20; Torbov, N., Antique Weapons, Plovdiv, 2016, pp.47-64, for similar examples.
FootnotesThe sword belongs to the period of the last Celtic deeds in Europe, when their warriors succeededin sacking the Holy Sanctuary of Delphi in Greece. Livy, based upon the text of Polybius generically speaks of 'Gallica arma' and 'ferrum', the latter synonymous of a sword (Livy, XXI, 42, 1-4). Diodorus tells us that the swords were worn by the Celts on the right side, hanging from a belt tied around his waist and were not carried hanging from a baldric over the shoulder like the Greeks or the Etruscans (V, 30, 3). He describes (V, 29 and 30) the fighting techniques of the Celts (combat chariot) and a list of all the weapons used: shields as tall as a man which exhibit embossed figures of animals in rolled brass with both decorative and protective function; the brass helmets with high crests, horns, or with figures of birds and quadrupeds to the top; a chainmail armour in iron; long swords hanging from the right side by means of iron and bronze chain; spears; javelins; war trumpets with hoarse sounds; and gold or silver plated belts.
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LOT 0268
Iron Age Celtic Iron La Tene Sword with Scabbard
Estimate £1,200 - 1,700€1,390 - 1,970 (for guidance only)$1,620 - 2,300 (for guidance only)
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Medieval Iron Swallow-Tailed Arrowhead
14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £104
With narrow curved edges and tapering socket. 8.08 grams, 52 mm
Acquired from Coincraft, London, UK. From the private collection of Kenneth Machin (1936-2020), Buckinghamshire, UK; with collection no.M36; his collection of antiquities and natural history was formed since 1948; thence by descent. Accompanied by an original certificate of authenticity from Coincraft. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato. -
Luristan Bronze Blade
8th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £364
Pointed blade with shallow midrib increasing in width near the ricasso, cast in one with the hilt, square shoulders, circular hilt with horizontal grooves, pommel with facing horses heads. 167 grams, 44 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. 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.
The skill of the Iranian metalworkers of this period is reflected in the numerous ornate pommels in bronze and iron found on weapons from Luristan and Iron Age Talish graves, which show close connections with the Lelvar culture of Southern Caucasus. -
Medieval Iron Anti-Cavalry Caltrop Group
13th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £98
Each hand-forged with square-section spikes, designed so that however the item falls, one spike is always vertical. 240 grams total, 74-95 mm
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.
