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_900x900.jpg "Migration Period Iron Spatha Sword with Garnet Inlaid Hilt")
_200x200.jpg "Migration Period Iron Spatha Sword with Garnet Inlaid Hilt")
_900x900.jpg "Migration Period Iron Spatha Sword with Garnet Inlaid Hilt")
_200x200.jpg "Migration Period Iron Spatha Sword with Garnet Inlaid Hilt")
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LOT 1406
Migration Period Iron Spatha Sword with Garnet Inlaid Hilt
5TH-7TH CENTURY A.D.
3/4 - 31 1/2 in. (753 grams total, 1.9-80 cm).
Comprising a double-edged parallel-sided blade showing battle nicks on both cutting edges, medium length tapering tang; lentoid-shaped lower-guard with inset garnets to one side; accompanied by an amber sword bead with a bronze stud with garnet inlay. [4]
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 a search certificate no. 12063-217911.
Cf. Menghin, W., Das Schwert im Frühen Mittelalter, Stuttgart, 1983; Zasetskaïa, I.P., Kul’tura Kotchovnikov iujnorusskikh stepeï v gunnskuïu epokhu (Culture of the nomads of the southern Russian steppes in the Hun era), Saint Petersburg, 1994; Lebedinski, I., Armes et guerriers Barbares au temps des grandes invasions IVème au Vième siècle après J.C., Paris, 2001, pp.117ff., swords from Loutchistoïé, Novohryhorivka, Bátaszék, Jakuszowice, Szirmabesényo, Ártánd, Horgos; Miks, C., Studien zur Römischen Schwertbewaffnung in der Kaiserzeit, I-II Banden, Rahden, 2007; Kazanski, M.M., Barbarians at the borders of the Eastern Roman Empire (in Russian), Simferopol, 2024, figs.12, p.20, 23, p.31, pl.36, for similar cross-guards.
FootnotesThis type of swords (cf. Lebedinsky 2001, p.117) usually had stones hanging from the pommel or hilt, like the one preserved here. This typology was widespread in central Europe by the Huns and there are also specimens attested in Gaul in the 5th century.
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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LOT 1406
Migration Period Iron Spatha Sword with Garnet Inlaid Hilt
Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,160
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Medieval Iron Horse Bit Collection
14th-16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
Snaffle bits with linked-ring joints, curb-bit ring to each end; many of these objects are published in the Detector Finds book series. 284 grams total, 17-20.5 cm
From the collection of the famous author, writer and speaker, Gordon Bailey, Essex, UK; formed since 1968. -
Cased British Military 'Published' Artefact Collection
Late 17th-early 19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
Comprising: breech and shoe, hat, belt ands stock/nap bronze buckles; clasps for pouches; a clay pipe; spare flint holders; a flint for musket; a flint for pistol; a bronze spur; military buttons for Royal Marine, Artillery, Coldstream and Dragoon Guards from 1795 to 1820; an officer’s whistle; a bayonet holder. 1.36 kg total, case: 30.5 x 22 x 6.5 cm
From the collection of the famous author, writer and speaker, Gordon Bailey, Essex, UK; formed since 1968.
Various military items have been recovered from the military sites of the Napoleonic Wars. Buttons are the most common items, made of copper, with some signs of gilding and silvering. Also small buckles are frequent finds, as well as musket balls and musket parts. These latter are rare because the individual soldiers were responsible for the care and maintenance of their fire-arms. -
Medieval Iron Single-Handed Sword
Late 11th-13th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,950
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. 1.2 kg, 1.01 m
From 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.
The 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.
