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LOT 1137
Khazar Silver-Gilt Sword Belt Mount with Warrior
9TH-10TH CENTURY A.D.
7/8 in. (8.27 grams, 22 mm).
Square in plan with a slightly convex openwork panel composed of alternating circular cells and leaf-like ovals, central male head with long hair and stylised facial features, possibly wearing a helmet; attachment loop to each corner on the reverse.
ProvenanceAcquired in the 1980s-1990s.
Ex an important central London gallery, London W1.
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Luristan Bronze Socketted Axehead
Circa 13th-7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Featuring an oval-shaped socket, straight upper edge and curved lower edge with slightly convex cutting edge. 1.2 kg, 14.5 cm
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.
Unadorned weapons, especially axes, adzes and picks, were made by Luristan craftsmen using simple clay or stone bivalve moulds, into which was inserted a core to form the socket for the shaft. Typically, the metallic composition consisted of a combination of arsenical bronze and copper, together with a small percentage of lead. -
Roman Iron Dagger with Ring Pommel
Circa 2nd-3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,170
Featuring a distinctively shaped ring at the end of the grip, double-edged relatively short blade and a tapered tip. 376 grams, 58 cm
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
This kind of sword - called by modern scholars as ringknaufschwert or ring-pommel sword - was firstly diffused amongst the auxiliary troops, probably Sarmatians and Germans, and then, during the 2nd century A.D., was also commonly used amongst the milites legionis and the officers. The shape of their blades is similar to the Pompey typology, but a slightly less acute angle characterises the passage from the blade to the short point. There were longer specimens like spatha, opening the transformation of the legionary gladius in the longer spatha specimens of the successive period, and also shorter specimens. An important dating element for earlier specimens is the sword from the Matrica grave, in Pannonia, dated exactly to 147 A.D. based on the other grave goods. Specimens of the second half of 2nd century A.D. are known from Wehringen and Geneva (180 A.D.). A specimen from Bosnia could be chronologically assigned to the same period, although such kind of swords became much more widespread for infantry and cavalry in later times. However, the importance of such swords has been recently associated with the rank of the provincial officers who used them, including miniature variations of such swords used as pendants as insignia badge of the staff of the Provincial governors. It was connected with the image of the sword and the dagger as a symbol of the Imperial power. -
Luristan Bronze Arrowhead
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Estimate: £150 - 200 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £80
The group comprising various types of tanged arrowheads, including barbed and leaf-shaped examples. 175 grams total, 8.1-10.5 cm
Acquired 1990s. From the collection of a late Japanese weaponry collector.