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LOT 0280
Medieval Iron Schiavonesca Type Sword with Latten Inlaid Crosses
CIRCA 15TH CENTURY A.D.
43 1/4 in. (1.7 kg total, 1.11 m).
Comprising a broad double-edged parallel-sided blade, flat-section at the upper third with a very shallow central fuller, elliptical-section at the lower end; flat guard with scooped lower edge, D-section arms horizontally S-curved; 'cat's head' type pommel, rectangular with scrolled upper edge and integral central boss to both faces; on the upper part of the blade an engraved three-armed workshop mark and two possibly later added brass inlaid marks including a cross fourchee inside and the image of a sword to one side; mounted on a wall display mount.
ProvenancePrivate collection, Munich, Germany, 1970s.
Private collection, London, UK, 2014, acquired from the above.
See Aleksić, M., Mediaeval Swords from Southeastern Europe, material from 12th to 15th century AD, Beograd, 2007, especially cat. nos.273, pl.17, 2-3-4; similar swords at the armoury of the Ducal Palace in Venice, see Franzoi, U., L’Armeria del Palazzo Ducale a Venezia, Treviso, 1990, fig.41f., and in National Hungarian Museum, Budapest (inv. nr. 53.310, see Aleksić, 2007, cat.124).
FootnotesThe Schiavonesca sword was used by Dalmatian mercenaries serving in the Venetian state armies, and produced by the workshops of the Serenissima to which the marks probably belong. Many of these swords were produced in Dubrovnik, a Croatian city under the Venetian rule. Oakeshott classified all the pommels of square shape in his Type Z. Certain morphological differences between them were individuated by Dr Aleksić as a criteria for distinguishing the distinct subtypes, in this case the type Z3 for the upper crenelleted edge. The cross-guards of type 12b, like in this case, have symmetrically and horizontally sharply bent arms in the opposite directions. The 'cat's head' pommel is also found on surviving examples of cross-hilted swords of the 14th century which can be traced into the hands of Slavonic soldiers stationed in southern Europe, employed in the European armies of this period. The independent representation of the cross fourchee usually inscribed in a circle is rather frequent on the swords with type 12 cross guards and type Z pommel from Hungary, Northern Balkans and the neighbouring regions (Aleksić, 2007, p.122).
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LOT 0280
Medieval Iron Schiavonesca Type Sword with Latten Inlaid Crosses
Estimate £800 - 1,000€930 - 1,160 (for guidance only)$1,080 - 1,350 (for guidance only)
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Deactivated M96 Mauser Rifle and Bayonet
Dated 1917 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £374
Swedish made bolt action model M96 with matching serial No.890, full wood stock with steel butt plate, trigger guard, sling swivels and fore-end, hinged backsight with slide; fitted with correct bayonet dated 1916 with steel scabbard and leather frog. 4.05 kg, 148 cm
Acquired from Arundel Militaria Ltd, UK, 2016. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by copies of invoice and listing and original Birmingham Gun Barrel Proof House Deactivation Certificate No.96730.
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. -
Medieval Decorated Bronze Macehead Group
14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
Each with four large triangular-shaped projections flanked by smaller projections; decorated with groups of ring-and-dot ornaments. 155 grams total, 46 mm each
Private collection, UK, formed in the 1980s. The Kusmirek Collection, UK.
The polygonal mace evolved into the hexagonal winged mace. Originating in the East, this weapon spread across Eastern Europe during the 13th century A.D., and from there to the West. The winged mace, used by the western Europeans, was almost certainly based upon Eastern Roman or Islamic prototypes. It is relevant to note that the polygonal mace was widely used by the eastern cavalrymen (like Turkish and Mongols), during the 14th century A.D. -
Iron Age Celtic La Tene Dagger
1st century B.C.-1st century A.D.Estimate: £1,200 - 1,700 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £500
Featuring a gently curved single-edged iron blade and one-sided fuller, curved handle with knot pommel; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 525 grams total, 35 cm high including stand
Dutch art market. Private collection of K.S., Cologne, Germany, acquired 1996.
One of the military insignia of a Celtic warrior was the war-knife, usually between 33 and 35 cm long. For example, in the collection of Celtic military equipment from Galish-Lovachka, the archaeologists have found a short sword with an X-shaped handle (l = 41 cm), two middle La Tène swords (72.5 and 75 cm long), 12 large curved knives, 27 spearheads, two javelin heads, 14 arrowheads, and nine iron chain belts for hanging a sword. The war-knife was also used for hunting, as a spare weapon, or to cut the throat of an enemy in a surprise attack.
