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LOT 1098
Large Western Asiatic Socketted Bronze Axehead
LATE 2ND MILLENNIUM B.C.
7 1/2 in. (1.16 kg, 19.2 cm).
Composed of flared cheeks, convex cutting edge and lentoid-shaped socket with raised circumferential rib and butt, with a vertical rib to the rear.
ProvenanceAcquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
See Gorelik, M., Weapons of Ancient East, IV millennium BC-IV century BC, Saint Petersburg (2003), pl.XXII, nos.30,39 (Artik and Nalchik, in Caucasus), for similar.
FootnotesIn the 2nd millennium B.C., in the Caucasus area, variants of axes with a curved horizontal blade and a tubular eye developed. The simplest variants of these types were borrowed through the north of Ciscaucasia by the inhabitants of the Eurasian steppes. In the steppes, war axes became, around the middle of the 2nd millennium B.C., the most powerful bronze weapons, spreading far to the east.
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AUCTIONS:
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Amlash Type Spearhead Bronze Spearhead Blade
13th-12th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
Showing a long tapering blade with rounded shoulders and prominent mid-rib, the tang straight and rectangular in section. 348 grams, 43.4 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
The weapon belongs to the type 1 of the Khorasani spearhead classification, mainly from Marlik or Amlash areas. Similar pieces have been dated by Stutzinger to 1200-1100 B.C., but the period of use is attested to at least until 1000 B.C. -
Medieval Iron Anti-Cavalry Caltrop Group
13th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £182
Comprising eight anti-cavalry caltrops, hand-forged with square-section spikes. 505 grams total, 8.7-10 cm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.
Caltrops were scattered on battlefields in an effort to stop or slow advancing enemy cavalry or foot soldiers; regardless of how a caltrop lands, one spike is always facing upwards. -
Viking Age Iron Bearded Axehead
9th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
Hand-forged with triangular-section narrow blade widening to a broad bevelled edge with square chin, socket with lateral flanges and rounded panel to the rear. 359 grams, 12.4 cm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.
The axe seems to belong to the typology of Viking side axes of Wheeler type B (Wheeler III / Rygh 559). Usually these bearded axeheads (skeggöks) had a longer edge, designed to split tree trunks into planks and beams, or heads in two parts. Some of the bearded axes were known as halfÞynna öx, the neck on such 'half thin axe' was thinly forged, to make it lighter.
