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LOT 0308
Medieval Iron Single-Handed Sword
LATE 11TH-13TH CENTURY A.D.
39 3/4 in. (1.2 kg, 1.01 m).
Double-edged tapering blade with rounded point, shallow fuller and a parallel-sided lower guard (cross style 2), the grip gently tapering, discoid pommel of type I with chamfered sides.
ProvenanceFrom the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.
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.12177-221435.
See Oakeshott, E., The sword in the Age of the Chivalry, Woodbridge, 1964 (1997); Dufty, A.R., European swords and daggers at the Tower of London, London, 1974; Oakeshott, E., Records of the Medieval Sword, Woodbridge, 1991.
FootnotesThe sword belongs to the type of ‘war swords’, although it is challenging to establish if it belongs to the type XI or type XII of Oakeshott's classification. It corresponds well with an English sword of type XI kept in the Tower Armoury (Dufty, 1974, plate 2, letter a), found in a peat bog near Newbury; but it also presents many characteristics of swords of type XII: it presents similarity to two swords excavated by Dr Jorma Leppaaho in 1950, from late Viking graves, one having a cross guard identical to our specimen and the other an identical pommel (Oakeshott, 1991, p.69, lett. V and VI); and another similar specimen is (a water find from Denmark) preserved in the Nationalmuseet of Copenhagen. In general the taper of the blade points more to the nature of the XII typology.
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Pre-Achaemenid Silver Clad Lion Shield Boss
9th-8th century B.C.Estimate: £3,000 - 4,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £1,250
With stylised repoussé head and face detailing showing two faces, one to the side and the other to the top, the mane represented by a scalloped border; sheet-silver clad to the head over bronze; pierced for attachment. 82 grams, 76 mm
Ex London, UK, gallery, 1971-early 2000s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11871-206896. -
Medieval Iron Bearded Axehead
Circa 15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
With broad curved blade and square chin, narrow neck, deep socket with square-section hammer to the reverse. 1.27 kg, 17.7 cm
Private collection, UK, formed 1980s-1990s. -
Luristan Bronze Arrowhead Collection
Circa 2nd millennium B.C.-9th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
Including triangular, leaf-shaped, barbed, square-section, and other types. 446 grams total, 10-17.5 cm
Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s.
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