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LOT 1061
Massive Viking Age Finno-Ugrian Spearhead
CIRCA 12TH-13TH CENTURY A.D.
16 5/8 in. (388 grams, 42.2 cm).
Comprising a leaf-shaped blade and long tubular socket. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceUK collection since the 1990s.
Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher.
Cf. Sedov, B.B., Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, pl.XI no.11, for comparable example.
FootnotesThe more common weapons of Finno-Ugrian people were axes commonly found from all Finnic areas, as well as spears. Among Baltic-Finnic people, especially in Finland and Karelia, knives called 'puukko' were common, as well as axes, spears, flat bows and long bows, while swords were usually imported from Germanic areas, Sweden or from elsewhere Scandinavia, some having often typically Scandinavian animal ornaments, although there are some Finnish made finds too.
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Iron Age Celtic Sacrificed Sword and Axehead Group
2nd century B.C.-1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £312
Ritualistically bent in the middle of the blade; together with two socketted axeheads, one Roman, one Celtic. 1.25 kg total, 10-60 cm
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £104
Pear-shaped ceramic vessel with domed filler-hole, circumferential impressed bands to the shoulder and equator; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 490 grams, 15 cm
Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s. 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. Such were the γανωτα, vessels (sometimes also of bronze) used for Greek fire. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form. -
Viking Age Bronze Sword Scabbard Chape Collection
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £715
Comprising: one heater-shaped with openwork raven motif to each face; one similar with openwork raven enmeshed in tendrils; one with fleur-de-lys to the centre of each upper edge and a lobed spur to each side; one with openwork quatrefoil to each face and knop finial to the apex. 145 grams total, 55-85 mm
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.
