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LOT 0305
Massive Medieval Iron Two-Handed Knight's Sword with Crosses on Guard
GERMANY, CIRCA 14TH CENTURY A.D.
56 in. (1.94 kg, 1.42 m).
Tapering blade with a shallow fuller, long and narrow tang with a pear-shaped pommel and a curved cross-guard of Oakeshott Style 6 with incised crosses; professionally conserved.
ProvenanceFrom the private family collection of a lady, UK; acquired in Germany mid 20th century.
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.12788-240330.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
See Oakeshott, R.E., The Archaeology of the weapons, London, 1960; Oakeshott, E., Sword in hand, London, 2001; Oakeshott, E., Records of the Medieval Sword, Woodbridge, 1991; see also Aleksić, M., Mediaeval Swords from Southeastern Europe, material from 12th to 15th century AD, Beograd, 2007, cat. nos.260, pl.16,3.
FootnotesThe noteworthy element of this sword is its guard with the engraved crosses. The presence of the cross suggests that the sword once belonged to person belonging to a military order of chivalry. Considering that the Templars were already destroyed when the sword was made, the main candidates could be the Hospitallers or, most probably, the Teutonic Knights.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0305
Massive Medieval Iron Two-Handed Knight's Sword with Crosses on Guard
Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,380
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Viking Age Iron Broad Axehead with Hammerhead
Circa 9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £312
With triangular section curved narrow blade, narrow neck, socket with triangular flanges, hammer extension to the rear. 518 grams, 15.6 cm
Ex North American private collection, 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
Piriform body with domed mouth, circumferential bands on the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 525 grams, 13.1 cm
From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 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'. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
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. -
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2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Comprising mainly large barbed-and-tanged types. 314 grams total, 6.5-18 cm
From a London collection, 1990s-2000. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
