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LOT 1399
Luristan Bronze Adze-Axe
2ND-1ST MILLENNIUM B.C.
10 in. (1.25 kg, 25.7 cm).
With central shaft hole and blade set at a right angle.
ProvenanceAcquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
Cf. Christie's, The Axel Guttmann Collection of Ancient Arms and Armour, part 2, London, 2004, item 34, p.32.
FootnotesThe 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.
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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. -
Viking Iron Sword with Three-Lobed Pommel
10th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,510
Comprising a two-edged blade with broad fuller and rounded tip, narrow lower guard with rounded outer ends, broad tang, lobed pommel of Type U with cocked-hat profile and lower guard, traces of silvering. 848 grams, 92 cm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12356-225922.
Petersen considered this type of Viking sword similar to the previous types R and S, but with differences in the pommel and cross-guard. The traces of silver ornaments on the guard and pommel are artistically consistent with archaeological examples of decorative work from the geographic region or estimated cultural point of origin, probably Eastern Scandinavia or the Baltic areas. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Piriform in profile with domed neck, impressed roundels to the foot. 755 grams, 15.5 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.
