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LOT 1364
Medieval Bronze Arrowhead
CIRCA 12TH-14TH CENTURY A.D.
3 7/8 in. (15 grams, 97 mm).
Tanged arrowhead with broad kite-shaped blade. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired on the London art market in the late 1980s-1990s.
From the family collection of an East London, UK, gentleman.
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AUCTIONS:
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Arab 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
13th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
Piriform body decorated with concentric circles inside a eight rays pointed star pattern, with domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 610 grams, 11.5 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. 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'.
The Arabs, following the Roman examples, made great use of these weapons. The efficiency of the weapon appears, for example, from the account of the siege of Akka in 1189, given by the contemporary historian Ibn al-Athir. He tells how the Christians exercised their engineering skill and built mighty beffroys. The situation was hopeless for the defending Arabs until a man from Damascus showed up, because he knew how to produce Greek Fire: ‘To trick the Christians he first threw some vesseIs with naptha and other things, which were not set on fire, upon one of the beffroy’s, and it was without power. The Christians...climbed the top of the beffroy...the man from Damascus waited until the contents of the vessels were spread all over. When the moment came,he threw a new pot, which was set on fire. In a few moments the fire was spread all over, and the beffroy was eaten up by the flames. The fire was spread in such a hurry that the Christians could not manage to climb down from the beffroy. Men, weapons, everything was eaten up by the flames.’ -
Viking Age Iron Bearded Axehead
Circa 9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
With triangular-section narrow blade widening to a broad bevelled edge and square chin, flared socket. 221 grams, 11.1 cm
From the collection of a Californian, USA, gentleman, dating back to the late 1960s.
The more commonly used weapons of the Finno-Ugrian people were axes, commonly found in all Finnic areas, as well as spears. Iron axeheads of this typology show a sub-trapezoidal asymmetrical blade, often perforated through the centre. -
Western Asiatic Bronze Sword Sheath
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Estimate: £300 - 400 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £150
Triangular in plan, terminating in an exaggerated curving point; the outer face pierced towards the top and with a raised midrib; the convex interior possibly containing fragmentary remains of a weapon. 355 grams, 56 cm
From a Japanese collection, 1990s.
Scabbards with a curve at their base are shown on reliefs and seals from Anatolia from the middle of the second millennium to the 9th century B.C.
