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LOT 1059
Medieval Iron Anti-Cavalry Caltrop Group
13TH-15TH CENTURY A.D.
3 1/8 - 3 3/8 in. (250 grams total, 79-84 mm).
Comprising eight caltrops, hand-forged with square-section spikes. [8, No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired 1971-1972.
From the collection of the vendor's father.
Property of a London, UK, collector.
Cf. Trapp, Graf O., & Scalini, M., L'Armeria Trapp di Castel Coira-The Armoury of the Castle of Chuburg-Die Churburger Rustkammer, Fagnana, 1995-1996, p. 297 (vol. 1), for similar medieval German caltrops.
FootnotesCaltrops were scattered on battlefields in an effort to stop or slow advancing enemy cavalry or foot soldiers; regardless of how a caltrop lands, one spike is always facing upwards.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Early Georgian Incendiary Iron Cannon Ball
Early 19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £98
Featuring a circular opening to receive fuse and plug to one face; hollow-formed. 3.9 kg, 11 cm diameter
Fine condition.
Acquired after 2000. Property of a Buckinghamshire, UK, gentleman.
The shrapnel shell is named after Lieutenant-General Henry Shrapnel (1761-1842), a British officer who devised the hollow, gunpowder-filled ball that was fused to explode either in the air or on the ground with the resulting ball fragments proving to be an effective anti-personnel weapon; later types were filled with lead musket balls and powder to make the weapon even more effective against troops; such projectiles were used both with field artillery cannon and with mortars. -
Western Asiatic Bronze Arrowhead Group
1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £39
Three tanged arrowheads with broadly leaf-shaped heads with shallow barbs, each with a raised midrib to both faces. 83 grams total, 13.5-14.5 cm
Ex private collection, 1980s. Acquired on the UK art market in the 1990s. -
Nathan Starr 1816 Pattern Musket
1832 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £715
Type III, made under contract by Nathan Starr of Middletown, CT; with .69 calibre, 107 cm (42”) browned barrel with side lock marked with Starr’s earlier style of 'US / (ornate sunburst) / N. STARR' ahead of the cock and 'MIDDTN / CONN / 1832 / (rosette)' to the rear with 'US / JM' over a raised 'P' in sunken circular cartouche to top of breech, with various inspection and other small marks, fitted with sling swivels (upper possibly a replacement), steel ramrod with flared tip, full wood stock with steel butt plate, trigger guard, side-plate, barrel rings and fore-end, lock with brass pan; action in good working order. 4.10 kg, 148 cm
Acquired from M J Noble Ltd, UK, 2015. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by the Noble purchase invoice and listing.
Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the Firearms Act, 1968, to be held as a curiosity or ornament. No license required but buyer must be over 18 years of age. Overseas bidders should note that, due to UK regulations governing export of all firearms, overseas buyers will need to make arrangements for shipping this lot out of the UK directly, by air freight, with a specialist company or agent.