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LOT 1573
Medieval Socketted Iron Flail
CIRCA 15TH CENTURY A.D.
23 in. (1.13 kg, 58.5 cm).
Hand-forged tubular socket of conical form and with collar to mouth, substantial loop, chain of oval links and connecting ring; a facetted conical head with lateral spikes. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceEx North American private collection, 1970s.
LiteratureSee Sturtevant, P.B., The military flail, in Medieval Warfare, January/February 2017, vol.6, no.6, pp.50-53, for discussion.
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Large Viking Age Iron Socketted Bearded Axehead
Circa 10th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £442
Finely curved broad blade with chin to the lower edge, rounded socket with lateral triangular extensions and a rectangular extension to the rear; professionally cleaned, conserved, and restored. 730 grams, 21 cm
From the family collection of a South East London collector; formerly acquired in the late 1950s.
This type of bearded axe seems to correspond to the E2 category of the Viking axe classification, but also has affinity with the Slavic axe-type Y. Usually these bearded axeheads (skeggöks) had a longer edge, designed to split tree trunks into planks and beams. Some of the bearded axes were known as halfÞynna öx; the neck on such a 'half thin axe' was thinly forged, to make it lighter. -
Bactrian Silver Macehead with Interlaced Dragons
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £936
Hollow-formed with bulb finial, low-relief image of opposed dragons with detailed scale texture; circumferential band with incised guilloche below; rim chipped; mounted on a custom-made stand. 440 grams total, 20 cm including stand
London, UK gallery, 1971-early 2000s. Private collection, London, UK. -
Western Asiatic Bronze Dagger Blade
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
With a prominently curved guard, extending out from the ricasso of the blade and partly frames the hilt, a thick midrib extending slightly above the ricasso where it held the hilt. 250 grams, 38.5 cm
Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.
The hilt of such swords was made separately, and unfortunately, is nearly always missing from the archaeological records. Similar daggers had a northern Iranian background, and excavated examples have been recorded from the South Caspian Area from Tomadjan and Ghalekuti.
