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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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Viking Age High Tinned Bronze Horse Harness Rein Mount Group
Khazar, 9th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £624
Mainly heater-shaped and crescentic plaque mounts with comma and pellet ornament, lateral lugs, mounting pins to reverse. 66 grams total, 17-18 mm
Acquired on the European art market since the early 2000s. From the private Northern Ireland collection of R.M. -
Amlash Type Spearhead
12th-11th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
With heavily ridged and tapered leaf-shaped blade, long slightly flared neck and square section tapered tang. 287 grams, 33.5 cm
From the private collection of H. Norry, 1980s-1990s.
The weapon belongs to the type 1 of the spear-head classification of Khorasani, mainly from Marlik or Amlash areas. Similar pieces have been dated by Stutzinger to 1200-1100 B.C. -
Migration Period Iron Sword with Jewelled Hilt
5th-6th century A.D.Estimate: £8,000 - 10,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £3,000
Comprising: a spatha-type two-edged tapering blade, lentoid in section with sloped shoulders and short tang pierced by an attachment rivet for the grip; traces to both faces of the blade of wooden fibre from the scabbard; edges lightly notched but substantially complete; the lower guard rectangular in plan and scaphoid in section with inset garnet cloisons, triangular along the lower row and heart-shaped above, rectangular at the top, with small rectangular slivers at each end; accompanied by the upper roundel of the pommel, set with four garnet cloisons. 954 grams, 84.5 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 no. 12357-225921.
These ‘ceremonial’ swords (in reality widely used in battle) with an inlaid guard are according to Kazanski Late Roman in origin. The cloisonné decoration was probably linked with the production of particularly ornamented swords in the ateliers of the Roman capital of Constantinople. This typology of weapon was not only produced as a gift for Barbarian chiefs allied to the empire, but it was also adopted by the Imperial army, and reserved for the Imperial officers, who were often of Germanic or Asiatic origin.
