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LOT 0265
Medieval Single-Handed Long Sword with Crosses
MID 10TH-MID 12TH CENTURY A.D.
39 3/4 in. (1.31 kg, 101 cm).
With a broad tapering blade, the wide and shallow fullers with inlaid decoration to both sides comprising a Greek cross within a circle, a cross potent and a wheel; long, straight guard and a short grip with a plain Brazil nut pommel. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceIng Peter Till collection, Austria 1990s.
UK collection, 2000s.
Property of an East Sussex, UK, teacher.
Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Cf. Oakeshott, J.R.E., The Archaeology of the weapons, London, 1960; Peirce, I., Swords of the Viking Age, Suffolk, 2002; Nicolle, D., Arms and Armour of the Crusading Era, 1050-1350, vol I, London, 1999; the sword finds a good parallel with a specimen from Spain, published by Peirce (2002, p.124); with a sword dated to circa 1200, from Germany, preserved in the Wallace collection, London, England (Nicolle, 1999, fig.424); with a sword from Dresden, with the name INGELRII on one side and the phrase HOMO DEI on the other, dated to about 1100; also with a sword once in the Oakeshott collection with the mark of Carrocium, dated to around the 11th century.
FootnotesThe sword is of Oakeshott Type Xa or XI and Petersen Type X. According to Oakeshott (1960, p.204) the swords of type X were a development of Viking sword type VIII with slight modifications. Oakeshott describes such swords as common in the late Viking age (late 10th century) and remaining in use until the first quarter of the 13th century.
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Luristan Bronze Arrowhead Group
12th-10th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
Comprising seventeen tanged arrowheads, the most of them having large elongated triangular blades and raised midrib, sharp central groove, cylindrical or squared stem for the shaft, barbed shoulders and convex sides; one with lanceolate head and rounded shoulders with long tang and foliate section; another narrow and foliate in shape. 126 grams total, 43-76 mm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
These arrowheads seem to belong to the type V, subcategory types A, C and D according to the classification of Khorasani and Negahban. In the four categories of triangular bronze arrowheads from Luristan, Marlik and Northern Iran individuated by Negahban, subtypes C and D of type V are larger arrow or javelin heads, C with barbed shoulders and D with round shoulders. Subtype A is substantially similar to C, but smaller. -
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Viking Iron Axehead with Silver Inlaid Interlaced Dragons
7th-9th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £6,240
To both lateral faces, the upper face of the blade and the rear of the socket decorated with an interlaced design; slender body with bearded lower edge and curved blade, lateral spurs and rectangular panel to the butt. 282 grams, 14 cm
Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK. Accompanied by a copy of a four page report written by Saxon and Viking specialist Stephen Pollington. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11878-206842.
The style of the design inlaid to the axe is interesting since it evidently owes a great deal to the kinds of Insular Style ornament found in manuscripts of the 8th century in the British Isles. The elegant curves of the narrow tendrils are strongly reminiscent of the zoomorphic elements found in the Lindisfarne Gospels, St Gall Codex and the Book of Kells (Salin, 1935, pp.342-3; Moss, 2018) and the inlaid designs show the characteristic parallel curves found for example on some of the initials in those documents. The tight knot serpentine bodies recalls the similar dense knot found in the Kells manuscript (Salin's figure 731). However, the details of the layout and execution show that the piece is unlikely to have originated in the British Isles. -
Luristan Bronze Macehead with Points and Fretwork
2600-2400 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £312
Cylindrical in shape, the upper section with alternating holes and vertical rows of three prominent spikes, short cylindrical shaft. 363 grams, 14.5 cm
Collected from 1979-1999. From the collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK.
This knopped mace head was probably made using the lost-wax method. It corresponds to the type M 2.A.b of the classification of Gernez: single-cylinder spiked maces. These elements are rare and quite diverse. They consist of a metal cylinder with rows of juxtaposed points. There are between 3 and 8 rows each, comprising 3 to 5 more or less pronounced spikes.
