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LOT 1477
Large Viking Age Iron Socketted Bearded Axehead
CIRCA 10TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
8 1/4 in. (730 grams, 21 cm).
Finely curved broad blade with chin to the lower edge, rounded socket with lateral triangular extensions and a rectangular extension to the rear; professionally cleaned, conserved, and restored. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom the family collection of a South East London collector; formerly acquired in the late 1950s.
LiteratureCf.Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.14 (3); Sedov, B.B., Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, pl.CXXIV, item 4.
FootnotesThis type of bearded axe seems to correspond to the E2 category of the Viking axe classification, but also has affinity with the Slavic axe-type Y. Usually these bearded axeheads (skeggöks) had a longer edge, designed to split tree trunks into planks and beams. Some of the bearded axes were known as halfÞynna öx; the neck on such a 'half thin axe' was thinly forged, to make it lighter.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1477
Large Viking Age Iron Socketted Bearded Axehead
Sold for (Inc. bp): £442
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Royal Hampshire Volunteers Silver-Plated Button
19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
Silver-plated military button bearing the legend 'ROYAL HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEERS' around a crown; loop to reverse. 2.18 grams, 17 mm
Found Waltham St. Lawrence, Windsor and Maidenhead, UK. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.BERK-0A5A9A.
From the PAS Report: 'Similar recorded examples have 'I. Nutting' backmark (without '& Son') which indicates a manufacture date of c.1794-1802 ('& Son' being added in 1803, dropped again c1820 when the father died).' The story of the unit is difficult to determine. 'The Volunteer & Militia lists for 1794,1796, 1797, 1799, 1800 & 1801 have all been checked and no unit of this title is listed. Also the Parliamentary Return for December 9th & 13th, 1803 which lists many units that didn't make it into the April 1804 War Office List have been searched, again no such unit is listed. There were a few infantry volunteer regiments raised c1780-1783 as so many of the regular regiments were fighting in the War of American Independence, 'Royal Lancasters Volunteers' was one such that is listed, but there is no mention of one for Hampshire.' -
Encased Thracian Bronze Triplebarb Arrowhead
5th-3rd century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
Triangular in section with prominent flanges extending beyond the mouth of the integral socket; mounted in a glass display on a wooden stand with handwritten legend. 28.3 grams, 31 mm
From Asia. Acquired on the UK art market. From the private collection of an East Anglian, UK, Specialist Collector. -
Greek Lead Slingshot of Alexander the Great
3rd-1st century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,170
Biconical in profile with casting seam and reserved legend 'ΑΛ[EXANΔΡΟ]Υ.', the club of Herakles on the other side. 29.6 grams, 30 mm
Acquired on the German art market before 2000. Private collection, Munich, Germany.
The presence of the club of Herakles connects the slingshot with the Macedonian Dynasty. Similar slingshots were found in Miletos.
