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LOT 1438
Iron Age Celtic Iron Spearhead
EUROPE, CIRCA 4TH CENTURY B.C.
11 1/8 in. (180 grams, 28.5 cm).
With lentoid-section two-edged blade, sturdy neck and short tubular socket; incised gusset detailing to neck. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired from Coincraft, London, UK.
From the private collection of Kenneth Machin (1936-2020), Buckinghamshire, UK; with collection no.IA26; his collection of antiquities and natural history was formed since 1948; thence by descent.
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AUCTIONS:
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Luristan Bronze Adze-Axe
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
With central shaft hole and blade set at a right angle. 1.25 kg, 25.7 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
The adze-axe was a fundamental axe of many Bronze Age ancient cultures. Its form was one that lends itself to dual purposes - for war and work. As a tool, it functioned in woodwork in fabricating a variety of objects and as a weapon, its heavy mass and compact form make it a very deadly striking and chopping weapon, even able to defeat light armour. -
Greek Bronze Arrowhead Collection
Circa 5th-3rd century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £52
Mainly socketted and triangular in section. 23 grams total, 15-49 mm
From a private Barnsley, UK, family collection. -
Turco-Mongol 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
14th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
Cylindrical in form with tapering foot, three radiating vertical flanges to the body with ribbing between, carinated shoulder with impressed points, domed mouth. 587 grams, 17 cm
From a specialist collection of militaria, London, UK, collected 1990s onwards. Accompanied by an academic paper by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato, dated 15 July 2019 and titled 'Eastern Roman Empire - Greek Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade (μεσαίον kακάβιον) 9th-11th century AD'.
Apart from the use of siphons or manual flame-throwers called cheirosiphona, special corps of Roman soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.
